Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' Tree

Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' is a striking ornamental Cherry Plum tree favoured for its rich, deep purple foliage and stems which can appear almost black. In March-April, 'Nigra' erupts in a mass of single pink flowers which are popular with bees and contrast beautifully with the emerging bronze leaves. The foliage colours to a blackish purple and then in autumn it takes on shades of red and orange.

This Black Cherry Plum tree has a rounded form and will grow to an estimated height and spread of 5 x 3 metres in 20 years. Tolerant of most positions and pollution, if prefers any reasonably well draining soil excluding shallow chalk.

A beautiful small flowering cherry, Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' is ideal for limited spaces and after flowering it creates a wonderful foliage foil for other plants.

AKA Black Cherry Plum tree, Purple Leaved Plum, Flowering Cherry Blossom

• Common name: Purple Leaved Plum tree
• Awards: RHS Award of Garden Merit
• Height and spread in 20 years: 5 x 3 metres
• Seasons of interest: Spring, Summer, Autumn
• Flowers: 5 petaled pink blossom in spring
• Foliage: Bronze new leaves mature to black-purple, orange-red in autumn
• Soil: Suited to all but very wet or chalky soils

Planting Advice for Prunus cerasifera Nigra Trees

Our pot grown Purple Leaved Plum trees can be planted at any time of the year. Choosing a location away from strong winds protects the blossom display. Start by removing weeds and grass within a metre of your desired planting hole. Dig a square hole as deep as your root mass and approximately 1.5x as wide. To help the tree establish more effectively, sprinkle root grow in the hole.

Remove the pot, gently loosen the roots and place into the planting hole. Mix 50% of the original soil with 50% compost. Fill in the hole and firm around gently, taking care not to bank soil up around the collar of the tree. We recommend planting Ornamental Plum trees with a stake and tie kit to help anchor the roots - instructions are in the planting guide.

After Care Advice for Prunus Nigra Trees

When planting Purple Leaf Plum trees in spring or summer, water well for the first few months. Increase watering if there are extended periods of hot or dry weather. When planting in autumn, you may only need to water a little.

Once planted, keep the area free of competing weeds and grass for the first couple of growing seasons. If your area is prone to rabbits, use a rabbit guard.

Pruning Prunus cerasifera Nigra Trees

Although you can leave Ornamental Plum trees to their own devices, if you prune them for the first few years they will create a more balanced branch framework and healthier trees in the long run. After two to three years, you will only need to remove any damaged or unwanted branches.

Carry out pruning after flowering i.e. after the petals have dropped but before the new shoot growth appears.

Covid-19: In response to government advice and for the safety of everyone, we have taken the difficult decision to stop nursery operations until mid-April.

It will still be possible to place new orders through our website and your  trees will be tagged and reserved for you, but we will be unable to despatch  them until operations resume.

Delivery Costs

1 small tree (most trees under 1.5 metres in height) : £7.95 + vat

1 medium tree (most trees 1.5-2 metres in height) or 2-4 small trees: £9.95 + vat

2+ medium trees or 5+ small trees: £12.95 + vat

1-4 trees delivered by pallet (inc. mature Japanese Maples): £19.95 + vat

The above prices exclude the Scottish Highlands, where delivery starts from £24.95 + vat and is calculated in the checkout process.

Mature and pleached trees or orders too large for pallet: Cost is calculated in the checkout process and varies by postcode rather than quantity (starts from £48 + vat).

Northern Ireland and Non Mainland UK

Our courier charges are not viable for just one or two trees, but if you have a larger requirement then please do speak to us to see if we can find a solution.

Delivery Timescales

All trees are carefully packed by our experienced team and most are delivered within 10 days of placing the order. There's no need to be in to receive your order and you can request where it is left via the checkout.

There is a slightly longer timescale on pleached and mature trees (trees over 2.5m in height) because we group orders together for specialist delivery - we will contact these customers to notify them of the delivery date.

Trees on pre-order are still growing and an estimate of when they will be ready is given on the basket page. Orders will be despatched when all trees are ready.

Gift trees and those required by a specific date can be accommodated with pleasure, although we accept no legal responsibility for late deliveries.

Our nursery is a busy despatch centre, so please make an appointment to collect or view trees.  For collections, despatch charges will be refunded.

The product table at the bottom of the page gives the forms and sizes available for this variety. Please note, photos are a guideline as all plants are unique. Below are definitions of terms:

Supplied Size: Height measured from the top of the pot.

Single Stem / Pruned and shaped: Classic shaped tree with a single stem that has had pruning to help create a beautiful, natural shape.

Top grafted: A height noted next to this form refers to the length of clear stem, which will not grow taller. Only the head of branches will develop. Top grafted trees do not require complicated pruning and are ideal for small spaces.

Feathered: A feathered tree has branches from the bottom of the trunk all the way up. These branches can be removed if a clear stem is required.

Multi Stem: A multi stem tree has two or more stems arising from or near ground level, growing from one root system.

Bush: A plant with many stems low down, rather than one clear stem.

Clump: Several plants in one pot that can give the appearance of a multi stemmed and very bushy tree.

Climber: A plant that is a natural climber and will be delivered usually running up a bamboo cane, ready to position in the garden.

Standard Tree: A more mature tree with an upright clear stem of approximately 1.8m-2.0m (measured from the soil to the lowest branches of the crown). Standards are available in different forms relating to their girth size (circumference of the stem measured 1m above soil level), not height:

Standard  either 6-10cm or 8-10cm girth, approximately 2.5-3.0m in height
Premium Standard  10-12cm girth, approximately 3.0-3.5m in height
Heavy Standard  12-14cm girth, approximately 3.5-4.5m in height
Extra Heavy Standard 14-16cm girth approximately 4.0-6m in height