Cherry
Prunus cerasifera
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · introduced
Last updated
Prunus cerasifera (Rosaceae) is a deciduous tree native to the Caucasus and western Asia. It grows 25 to 30 feet tall with a rounded crown. The species is most commonly planted in its purple-leaved cultivars, which produce pink to white flowers in early spring before the dark foliage emerges. Small red to purple plums follow but are typically sparse.
Cherry plum grows in full sun on well-drained soil. 'Thundercloud' and 'Krauter Vesuvius' (deep purple foliage, pink flowers) are the most widely planted cultivars. The fruit is edible but variable in quality. The species is used as a rootstock for other Prunus species. Disease susceptibility is similar to other stone fruits. Hardy in Zones 4a to 8b.
Quick Facts
Height
25 ft
Spread
29 ft
Growth Rate
Moderate
Light
Full Sun
Soil
Well Drained
Water
Moderate
Hardiness
Zone Zones 4a–8b
Bloom Time
April
Origin
Western Asia, Caucasus
Watch for this season
Bloom Infection Window (Critical)
Coryneum blight (Shothole)High
Primary Infection - Flowers and Young Leaves
Cytospora CankerHigh
Spring Canker Activation
RustHigh
Aecial Stage (Alternate Host)
+ 17 more — see full disease and pest lists below
Diseases: Regionally Documented (53)
Armillaria Crown and Root Rot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker An uncharacterized Black Canker Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Cherry mottle leaf virus Cherry Mottle Leaf Cherry twisted leaf-associated virus Cherry Twisted Leaf Believed to Crinkle Leaf and Deep Suture Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (bacterial canker complex) Dead Bud Eola rasp Eola Rasp Leaf (Yellow Bud Mosaic) Although bacterial Fungal Cankers June Drop Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Grapevine leafroll virus Leafroll Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Uncharacterized graft Necrotic Rusty Mottle (Lambert Mottle) and Rusty Mottle Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Multiple fungal agents Pitting Many fungi Postharvest Rots Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Prune dwarf Prune Dwarf Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Cherry rasp Rasp Leaf Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Fusari... Replant Disease This problem Rosette [VERIFY] (multiple possible causes) Rugose Stigmina carpophila or Diaporthe spp. Shothole Stigmina carpophila Shothole (Coryneum Blight) Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Several causes Stem Pitting Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Cherry leafroll virus (CLRV); complex with prune dwarf vi... Virus-induced Cherry Decline Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Taphrina wiesneri Witches' Broom Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni X-Disease Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Taphrina deformans Leaf Curl Russeting Chrysomyxa piperiana Rusty Spot Split Pit Sprinkler Rot (Phytophthora Fruit Rot) Taphrina pruni Plum Pockets Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole) Xiphinema americanum and related species Nematode, Dagger Mesocriconema spp Nematode, Ring Pratylenchus penetrans (primary) and P Nematode, Root-lesion Various plant-parasitic nematode genera Nematodes
Pests: Regionally Documented (39)
Choreutis pariana Apple-and-thorn skeletonizer Myzus cerasi Black cherry aphid Halyomorpha halys Brown marmorated stink bug Enarmonia formosana Cherry bark tortrix Cherry fruit fly Noctuidae Cutworms and Armyworms Forficula auricularia Earwig Spilonota ocellana Eyespotted bud moth Archips argyrospila Fruittree leafroller Acrobasis spp. Leaf crumpler and Mineola moth Cicadellidae Leafhopper Tortricidae Leafroller Grapholita prunivora Lesser appleworm Chrysobothris mali Pacific flatheaded borer Synanthedon exitiosa Peachtree borer Aculus fockeui Prunus rust mite Schizura concinna Redhumped caterpillar Diaspidiotus perniciosus San Jose scale Scolytus rugulosus Shothole borer Tetranychidae Spider mite Drosophila suzukii Spotted-wing drosophila Pentatomidae Stink bug Syneta albida Syneta beetle Malacosoma spp. Tent caterpillar Thysanoptera Thrips Phyllonorycter elmaella Western tentiform leafminer Operophtera brumata Winter moth Hyphantria cunea Fall webworm Anarsia lineatella Peach twig borer Aphidoidea Aphid Choristoneura rosaceana Obliquebanded Leafroller Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Edwardsiana rosae Rose leafhopper Cacoecimorpha pronubana Carnation tortrix Aculus cornutus Peach silver mite Parthenolecanium spp. Lecanium scale Phorodon humuli Hop aphid Brachycaudus helichrysi Leaf curl plum aphid Coccoidea Scale insect
Cultivars (5)
'Atropurpurea'
Common name: Atropurpurea Flowering Plum; Mature height: 15–20 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 5
'Krauters Vesuvius'
Common name: Krauter's Vesuvius Flowering Plum Krauter's Vesuvius Plum Krauter Vesuvius; Mature height: 15–20 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 5
'Thundercloud'
Common name: Thundercloud Flowering Plum Thundercloud Plum; Mature height: 15–20 ft
Hardy to USDA Zone 5
'Krauter Vesuvius'
'Cripoizam'
Data Maturity Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.