Blood plums come from cherry plums. They serve as a base for cultivated plums when grafting. In this way, numerous plum varieties thrive in local orchards. Learn more about the red-leaved plum trees.
What is a plum tree with red leaves?
A plum tree with red leaves, also known as a blood plum, belongs to the rose family and is descended from the cherry plum. The leaves are colored red to dark red and there are two popular varieties: Prunus cerasifera Nigra and Prunus cerasifera Pissardii.
Features
- Family: Rosaceae (rose family)
- Coloring of the leaves: red to dark red
- Species: small tree, large shrub
Red-leaved plums are early bloomers. From March onwards they delight with a magnificent, pink sea of flowers. Later, thanks to their dense foliage, they serve as good shade providers. Its leaves are elliptical.
Fruits
- Shape: round
- Size: two to three centimeters
- Color: orange to reddish
- Taste: sweet and sour to sweet
- Core difficult to dissolve, contains toxic substances
- juicy pulp
Varieties
This type of plum can be found in the wild or cultivated. In Germany, two varieties are among the summer highlights in the orchard. They grow up to five meters high.
Prunus cerasifera Nigra
- Synonym: Prunus cerasifera Pissardii N-igra
- Flowers: pink-red, solitary
- Leaves: red (May to June), then black-red
Prunus cerasifera Pissardii
- Synonym: Prunus cerasifera Atropurpurea
- Flowers: white-pink to white, often in pairs
- Leaves: black-red, fades over time
Care
The hardy and warmth-loving blood plum is an easy-care tree. With sufficient water, nutrients and a suitable substrate, this species thrives.
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Fertilizing in spring: complex fertilizer (€18.00 at Amazon)
- Pruning: young trees annually, older trees every two to four years
For young blood plums, make sure that the soil does not dry out. In this way you promote the rooting process. Older specimens survive longer dry periods well.
Substrate
A humus and calcareous soil is ideal for the holistic development of the plant. However, under no circumstances should it be sour. You can support small trees in their growth by regularly loosening the upper layers of soil.
Tips & Tricks
The small fruits of the blood plum ripen until late summer. They are a sweet and vitamin-rich treat.
