Prunus x blireana
Family: Rosaceae, Rose
Key Steps
- 1b – Alternate leaf arrangement — go to 18
- 18a – Leaf simple — go to 19
- 19b – Thornless — go to 22
- 22e – All leaves unlobed — go to 31
- 31d – Leaf is oval or oblong (twice as long as wide) — go to 40
- 40b – Leaf base symmetrical — go to 43
- 43b – Leaf margin not wavy or only slightly wavy; margin obviously toothed — go to 44
- 44b – Petiole is less than 1 inch long — go to 45
- 45b – Irregular pinnate venation; veins may curve slightly; usually splitting and forking near the leaf margin — go to 48
- 48b – Usually glands on petiole or base of leaf. Stem and buds not hairy — go to 50
- 50a – True terminal bud absent — go to 51
- 51a – Leaves reddish-purple — go to 52
- 52b – When stems are scratched, red-purple beneath — Blireana Plum
- 51a – Leaves reddish-purple — go to 52
- 50a – True terminal bud absent — go to 51
- 48b – Usually glands on petiole or base of leaf. Stem and buds not hairy — go to 50
- 45b – Irregular pinnate venation; veins may curve slightly; usually splitting and forking near the leaf margin — go to 48
- 44b – Petiole is less than 1 inch long — go to 45
- 43b – Leaf margin not wavy or only slightly wavy; margin obviously toothed — go to 44
- 40b – Leaf base symmetrical — go to 43
- 31d – Leaf is oval or oblong (twice as long as wide) — go to 40
- 22e – All leaves unlobed — go to 31
- 19b – Thornless — go to 22
- 18a – Leaf simple — go to 19
Description
A hybrid between Prunus ceracifera ‘Atropurpurea’ and Prunus mume.
Leaf: Purplish-red, small (2 to 3 1/2 inches long), blunt tip, puckery near the lower part of the central vein. Leaf turns red in fall. Stipules fall off early. Glands (at base of leaf) very hard to see, not on every leaf.
Bud: Short, blunt, a little hairy.
Stem: Hairless, lenticels. Grayish-brown. Red-purple beneath bark when scratched.
Flower: Blooms in April or early May. Pale pink to white.
Fruit: Sparse. 1-inch diameters. Dull deep red. Flesh is light red.
Habit: Round, broad head. Small ornamental. To 15-25 feet tall.
Culture: Moderate moisture requirement. Full sun.
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