Prunus x cistena - Purple-leaved Sand Cherry

Prunus x cistena is an old American hybrid variety with a compact habit, well adapted to small spaces. Depending on how it is grown, it forms either a bushy shrub or a small tree, combining the beautiful dark red-chocolate foliage of its parent Prunus pissardii with the very modest stature of the bushy American sand cherry. This deciduous prunus bears numerous, very pale pink, small flowers, deep pink in buds, that bloom at the same time as the foliage, which is red when it buds. This low-maintenance shrub, suitable for all well-drained soils as long as they are not too dry, will find its place in a natural hedge, in a bed, or in a thicket, where its dark foliage works wonders.

Prunus cistena, from the large Rosaceae family, is an old American horticultural creation obtained at the University of South Dakota in the 1910s. It is the result of cross-breeding between the purple myrobalan plum (Prunus cerasifera 'Atropurpurea' or 'Pissardii') and Prunus pumila, widespread in the dunes and sandy shores of Canada and a large part of the United States. Slow-growing, it displays a bushy, dense and spreading habit, supported by upright branches. At maturity, it does exceed 2 m (7ft) in height, widening with the years to reach a spread of about 2.25 m (7ft). The bark covering the trunk and old branches is dark reddish-brown, while the young branches are red-violet. At the same time as the light red foliage, in April-May depending on the region, a profusion of pink flower buds appear, which open into small, pink-white, slightly scented flowers with purple stamens, much loved by bees. At the end of the flowering period, the flowers fade to almost white and the foliage takes on beautiful chocolate-purple hues that remain until October. Note that the foliage colour will be more pronounced if the shrub is planted in full sun. The flowers give way to small, fleshy, violet fruits, edible but acidic, highly sought after by birds. The deciduous foliage is composed of entire, alternate, ovate-elliptical leaves, 4 to 6 cm (2in) long, finely toothed at the edges. Its name, cistena, means "baby" in Sioux language, a name undoubtedly chosen in allusion to the small size of this prunus, and to the origins of its North American ancestor.

Slow-growing, of modest stature and requiring very little maintenance, this shrub which can sometimes remind us of purple Berberis is suitable for small gardens, where it will be particularly showcased as part of a natural hedge. You can also plant it in a bed or as a standalone specimen. Fully hardy, Prunus cistena can be cultivated in many regions, but dislikes compact, clayey soils and excessively dry conditions. In a hedge or bed, it can for example be associated with other spring-flowering shrubs, that flower at the same time or with a slight delay, such as ornamental apple trees, flowering peaches, flowering almonds or hawthorns...