Stay classy ® purple leaf sand cherry ’ s handsome warm burgundy foliage is arranged on airy, upward growing branches. Thanks to the warmth of the red tone, it does not have a black hole look like you may have found with other dark leaved plants. Best of all, it grows to its mature size quite fast. Purple sand cherry is a widely planted, deciduous, small tree. White-pink single flowers appear in spring before the foliage emerges. A monrovia exclusive. It is a hybrid between an asian tree (prunus cerasifera atropurpurea ) and a native species (prunus pumila). Transform your garden with an array of plants, seeds & flower bulbs. Get deals and low prices on sand cherry shrubs at amazon It is short-lived and prone to significant insect and disease problems. It is most noted for its reddish purple foliage that retains good color throughout the summer. It is short-live to about 10 years due to insects and diseases. · learn how to grow purple leaf sand cherry (prunus x cistena), a hardy, deciduous flowering shrub with white-pink flowers and purple leaves. It also may be trained as a small tree. It has a good purplish leaf color throughout summer. This truly compact, improved sand cherry has a great upright and spreading habit, with dense branching from the ground up, and very clean, red- purple to maroon-colored foliage that does not fade during the summer. The spring flowers give way to purplish drupes that attract birds. Prunus × cistena, commonly called purple-leaf sand cherry, is an upright deciduous shrub that typically grows 6-10’ tall and 5-8’ wide. It has an upright, spreading habit, with reddish- purple foliage and fragrant whitish-pink flowers. It is characterized by its deep purple-red leaves that create a dramatic contrast in the garden. Prunus x cistena, commonly known as the purple leaf sand cherry or dwarf red-leaf plum, is a deciduous shrub prized for its striking foliage and delicate flowers. Great for spring color in a shrub border.