Plant Library

Other Names:  Sandcherry, Cistena Cherry

Brand:  Monrovia

Description:

A truly compact, improved variety with a great upright and spreading habit; white-pink flowers in spring are elegant, but the reddish-purple to maroon foliage stands out all season long; needs full sun and well-drained soil; adds lasting color to a garden

Ornamental Features

Darkstar® Purple Leaf Sand Cherry has attractive burgundy-variegated dark green foliage with hints of purple which emerges red in spring on a plant with an upright spreading habit of growth. The pointy leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding red in the fall. It features delicate fragrant pink flowers with white overtones along the branches in mid spring before the leaves. The smooth bark and dark red branches add an interesting dimension to the landscape.

Landscape Attributes

Darkstar® Purple Leaf Sand Cherry is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Darkstar® Purple Leaf Sand Cherry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Mass Planting
• Hedges/Screening
• General Garden Use

Planting & Growing

Darkstar® Purple Leaf Sand Cherry will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 4 feet. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.