Prunus cerasifera 'Pissardi' Bush
Origin: the United States. Large shrub or small deciduous tree with round, compact crown. The bark of the young branches is purplish-blue. Oval leaves, 5-7cm long, ruby when they appear, later they become reddish-purple and do not fade in summer. Simple flowers, bright pink, 2.5cm wide on the previous year’s branches. The flowers are numerous and begin to open on the bare branches and with the new leaves they literally cover the entire crown which becomes a breathtaking pink cloud. Fruit: small, red, edible plums in August- September, decorative but sporadic. Grows well in all normal garden soil, even dry and stony, but it gives best results in cool, alluvial and permeable soil. Tolerates pollution and is used a lot as a street tree where the streets are not too wide. Any pruning to keep the growth under control or to shape the tree must be carried out immediately after flowering.
