57. Purpleleaf Plum

Tree Tour

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Four Purpleleaf Plum trees between Savery and Gowen Halls are in rectangular planting beds full of St. John's-wort. Their soft pink flowers precede the Quad's yoshino cherries in bloom, then they wear a robe of purple foliage until fall. In between, the trees ripen deep red plums no larger than huge cherries, which are a sour treat. A variant of the typical cherry plum first arose in Persia as the original purpleleaf plum. Now, over 100 years later, fifty additional named varieties are on record; as a group they're also called flowering or ornamental plums, names which don't preclude delicious fruit on some.

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