Flowering Plum ‘Thundercloud’ Prunus cerasifera

Prunus cerasifera is commonly called cherry plum. It is native to western Asia and the Caucasus. ‘Thundercloud’ is purple-leaved cultivar that typically grows as a dense, upright-spreading tree to 15-25’ tall. It has become a very popular ornamental landscape tree in large part because its showy purple foliage retains excellent color throughout the growing season. Fragrant, 5-petaled, light pink flowers (to 3/4” across) bloom abundantly in early spring (April) before the foliage emerges. Serrate, ovate to elliptic leaves (to 2.5” long) emerge ruby red in spring, but mature to dark reddish-purple. Flowers are followed by small edible fruits (purple plums to 1” diameter). Ceracifera is derived from the Latin words cerasus (cherry tree) and ferre (to bear).