Is the purple-leaf plum a deciduous tree or an evergreen tree?

The purple-leaf plum is native to southwestern Asia and is currently widely planted in northern China and areas to the south. With its purple, glossy leaves among the green foliage, it looks like clusters of flowers that never fade, forming a beautiful sight along the green mountains and waters. So, is the purple-leaf plum a deciduous tree or an evergreen tree?

1. Is the purple-leaf plum a deciduous tree or an evergreen tree?

The purple-leaf plum is a deciduous tree. Also known as the purple-leaf plum (Prunus cerasifera f. atropurpurea), its leaves are purple-red, and it can reach a height of 8 m. It is a well-known foliage ornamental tree species.

2. Can the fruit of the purple-leaf plum be eaten?

The fruit of the purple-leaf plum can be eaten. Its fruit is slightly smaller than ordinary plums, and the ripe purple-leaf plum is also sweet and sour. Reader Ms. Wang said that purple-leaf plums are planted in her residential community, and when they ripen, she picks some to make fruit wine: “After washing all the fruit and draining the water, cut a small opening in each fruit, sprinkle on white sugar, and then just wait for it to ferment.”

Its ripe fruit is purple-red, and the flesh is red. The fruit is nearly round, with an average single fruit weight of 15.2g, a transverse diameter of 2.6cm, and a longitudinal diameter of 2.4cm. The fruit top is smooth, the suture line is shallow, and the bloom is thin. The flesh is blood-red, sweet and sour in taste, aromatic, with abundant juice and few fibers, and the quality is above average.

3. Growth habits of the purple-leaf plum

The purple-leaf plum likes sunlight and a warm, humid climate, and has a certain drought resistance. It is highly adaptable to soil and is not tolerant of drought, but is relatively tolerant of waterlogging. However, it grows well in fertile, deep, well-drained clayey neutral and acidic soils, and is not tolerant of alkali. Sandy gravel soil is best, and clayey soil can also support its growth. Its root system is relatively shallow, and its sprouting ability is relatively strong.

The purple-leaf plum is purple-red throughout the entire growing season, and is suitable for planting in front of buildings, beside garden paths, or at the corners of lawns.