Purpleleaf Sandcherry Redleaf Sandcherry Cistena Sandcherry Cistena Plum

Prunus cistena

Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · introduced

Last updated

Prunus x cistena (Rosaceae) is a compact deciduous shrub of hybrid origin (P. cerasifera x P. pumila). It grows 8 to 10 feet tall with an upright, vase-shaped habit. Deep reddish-purple foliage persists throughout the growing season. Fragrant, single pink to white flowers appear in spring.

Purpleleaf sand cherry grows in full sun on well-drained soil. The deep foliage color provides strong contrast in mixed borders. The species tends to be short-lived (10 to 15 years) and may sucker. It tolerates cold and moderate drought. Disease pressure is typical of Prunus. Hardy in Zones 4a to 8b.

Quick Facts

Height
7–10 ft
Light
Full Sun
Hardiness
Zone Zones 3a–8b
Watch for this season
Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit RotHigh

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)

Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Stigmina carpophila Shothole (Coryneum Blight) Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Mottle leaf Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (bacterial canker complex) Dead Bud Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Stigmina carpophila or Diaporthe spp. Shothole Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay An uncharacterized Black Canker Cherry twisted leaf-associated virus Cherry Twisted Leaf Believed to Crinkle Leaf and Deep Suture Eola rasp Eola Rasp Leaf (Yellow Bud Mosaic) Although bacterial Fungal Cankers June Drop Grapevine leafroll virus Leafroll Uncharacterized graft Necrotic Rusty Mottle (Lambert Mottle) and Rusty Mottle Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Multiple fungal agents Pitting Many fungi Postharvest Rots Prune dwarf Prune Dwarf Cherry rasp Rasp Leaf Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Fusari... Replant Disease This problem Rosette [VERIFY] (multiple possible causes) Rugose Several causes Stem Pitting Cherry leafroll virus (CLRV); complex with prune dwarf vi... Virus-induced Cherry Decline Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni X-Disease 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 (31)

Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.