Featuring: Prunus cerasifera ‘Pissardii' or ‘Atropurpurea'
Common name: Pissard Plum/Cherry Plum

by Rick Los, Director of Horticulture

The showy Pissard Plum is often regarded as one of the finest of the flowering plum trees. This decorative tree is from the genus Prunus (belonging to the Rose Family) which also includes almonds, apricots, cherries, nectarines and peaches. 

Growing up to a height of 6-7.6 metres (20-25 feet) with a round head of equal size, this tree is striking with its pinkish white blossoms beginning to open in early March and carrying on through April. The flowers typically open before the onset of the reddish purple foliage which, interestingly enough, tends to darken throughout the growing season. In order to maximize flowering and to obtain the darkest foliage, a sunny location is preferred. The purple fruit is edible, but for some locations it is seen as a drawback as the fallen fruit can create quite a mess.

These hardy trees are native to western Asia and the Caucasus region and were first discovered in 1880 by M. Pissard who at the time was the head gardener to the Shah of Persia (Iran). Pissard sent some of the seed home to France where this unique tree gained immediate popularity. Interestingly enough, the original trees had pure white flowers and dark foliage, but through the years a wide variation in both flower and foliage colour has developed. In recent years I have found it almost impossible to find a white flowering form as pink seems to be the most popular form being propagated.   

These trees are easy to grow and, as with all rose family members, they prefer to be planted in a well-drained location. Almost any soil type is okay and some of the trees at The Gardens are doing quite well planted in a clay loam. Pest and disease issues are minimal, but one recent problem is that since most plants are now container grown, girdling of the roots and the subsequent strangling of the tree has become an issue. So if you happen to plant one of these trees from a container, please make sure that you take the time to untangle and spread the roots - we have gone so far as to completely wash any soil off the roots before planting so we can see the entire picture.

This tree is a favorite of ours as it signals the arrival of spring and adds interest to the landscape throughout the year. If you would like to see some mature specimens of these trees we do have a number of them at the Gardens for your viewing pleasure.