A Comprehensive Analysis of the Growth Habits of the Purple-leaf Dwarf Cherry

Morphological Characteristics of the Purple-leaf Dwarf Cherry

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry grows 1.8 m to 2.5 m tall, with a crown spread of 1.5 m to 2.8 m. Its young branches are purplish brown, and the old branches bear lenticels. The flowers are solitary, pale pink, with 5 petals and a faint fragrance, blooming from April to May.

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry is a hybrid of the purple-leaf plum and the dwarf cherry. It is cultivated in various regions; in China it is suitable for cultivation in North China, Central China, East China, South China and other areas, and in Northeast China's Liaoning and southern Jilin it can safely overwinter in winter.

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry has a good color effect. Throughout the entire growing season its leaves remain purplish red, bright and distinctive, with a compact tree shape and dense foliage, giving the whole plant a fine color display. For potted applications, it can be made into medium and miniature bonsai.

Cultivation Methods for the Purple-leaf Dwarf Cherry

Sunlight

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry is a light-loving tree species, but it is also cold-tolerant and shade-tolerant. When planted in places with insufficient light, its leaf color turns greenish, so it should be planted in a spot with ample sunlight.

Soil

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry is not strict about soil, but it grows best in fertile, deep, well-drained neutral or slightly acidic sandy loam; light clay is also acceptable. For pot cultivation, the pot should be rather deep and large, and broken tiles or crushed hard plastic foam blocks should be placed at the bottom to enhance soil aeration and drainage and to prevent root rot.

Water

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry likes a moist environment and dislikes waterlogging, so it should be planted in a high, dry spot. It is best to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged.

Ornamental Value of the Purple-leaf Dwarf Cherry

The purple-leaf dwarf cherry has a good ornamental effect, grows quickly, propagates easily, tolerates pruning and has strong adaptability. It is generally propagated by grafting and cuttings; the rootstock for grafting is usually wild apricot (Prunus sibirica) or wild peach (Prunus davidiana), with apricot rootstock being the best. It has strong sprouting ability, so in garden cultivation it can easily be trained into a ball or hedge shape; through repeated pinching, multiple branches form, and before winter the stray branches are cut away and vigorous shoots are heavily shortened, combining cultivation with ornament.

In landscaping, because of its strong branch sprouting ability, bright leaf color and the fact that it is purplish red from bud break to leaf fall, the purple-leaf dwarf cherry can be planted as a whole for urban colored hedges or color blocks, or planted individually, making it one of the best tree species for greening and beautifying cities.