The Varieties of Ornamental Plum Trees

Thundercloud

• Thundercloud offers a more upright growth habit than most other ornamental plum varieties but with a similarly spreading crown of foliage. The fragrant, pale-pink blossoms emerge in early spring and give way to purple, bronze-tinted foliage, which persists until autumn. Few problems afflict Thundercloud ornamental plums, but they are susceptible to a fungal infection called brown rot when grown in cool, wet environments.

Mount St. Helens

• Mount St. Helens is a fast-growing cultivar of ornamental plum grown chiefly for its dark purple foliage, which retains its color longer into the summer than most other ornamental plum varieties. While it is not the heaviest bloomer, Mount St. Helens produces blossoms of a delicate, medium-pink that is different from most other cultivars of ornamental plum.

Newport Cherry Plum

• Newport cherry plum will withstand temperatures below 25 F for several hours with minimal damage, making it one of the cold-hardiest cultivars of ornamental plum. Following a brief springtime bloom, it produces a crop of bronzy-purple leaves that mature into a deep, wine red coloration. While it is beautiful and hardy, Newport cherry plum is typically short-lived due to its susceptibility to diseases such as cytospora canker and brown spot.

Atropurpurea

• Atropurpurea charms many gardeners with its wine-red leaves and dainty white blossoms. It is one of the oldest ornamental plum tree cultivars and is still widely cultivated for its attractive foliage and resistance to diseases such as canker and brown rot. Unfortunately, Atropurpurea trees bear a large crop of fruit in summer, which will sprout and produce a forest of seedlings if not promptly raked up after dropping.

Krauter Vesuvius

• Krauter Vesuvius offers the most dramatic coloring of all the ornamental plum tree cultivars. The large, dark-pink blossoms appear in mid-April and give way to dark purple leaves that appear nearly black in direct sunlight. Krauter Vesuvius seldom bears fruit, so it will not cause a mess if planted near your walkway or deck, but the base of the trunk produces an abundance of suckers that must be routinely pruned to keep the tree looking tidy.