Thundercloud Plum Care

Full Sun

• Place your Thundercloud plum in a site that receives full sunshine. Full sun tends to enhance the color of the leaves and the tree’s ability to generate flowers. The foliage typically starts out a shade of ruby red, but then changes to a deep purple, states the Missouri Botanical Garden. However, if you plant Thundercloud in a shady site, the foliage becomes nearly all green, lacking the purple color that make this tree so admired.

Soil Conditions

• Although Thundercloud will grow in alkaline soil or soil with a neutral pH, the tree performs best when you plant it in acidic ground. Refrain from situating one in compacted soil of poor quality – the type that typically occurs close to foundations – as this will affect the tree adversely, making it susceptible to insect pests such as borers. Soil should feature good drainage and be of medium moisture content.

Brown Rot

• Flowering plum trees and their cultivars are vulnerable to an ailment known as brown rot. Brought about via fungal spores, brown rot is prevalent in wet weather during the springtime, with the malady spreading from the flowers to the rest of the tree. Brown rot precipitates thin branches and a crown that appears sparse in trees like Thundercloud. Plant Thundercloud in an exposed area where the sun can quickly dry out the leaves and flowers after a rain, limiting the ability of the spores to spread.

More Information

• Consider that the plums Thundercloud generates eventually fall from the tree, creating a mess beneath it; this can make patios and decks messy if you place the tree too close to them. Thundercloud is drought tolerant once established. If you transplant Thundercloud, do so in the spring. Do any pruning of the branches after Thundercloud finishes flowering; this usually occurs in May. Thundercloud has some tolerance to salt sprat, making it an option for seaside plantings, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.