Purple Leaf Sand Cherry vs Pygmy Caragana - TreeTime.ca

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry vs Pygmy Caragana

Prunus x cistena

Caragana pygmaea

CUSTOM GROW

CUSTOM GROW

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Pygmy Caragana

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry provides bright reddish-purple leaves that turn bronze-green in the fall. In the spring, tiny flowers with a pinkish white hue bloom. The flowers are small, but the impact comes from the shrub blossoming all at once.

The Purple leaf sand cherry can be susceptible to pests and diseases in more humid areas; a typical life span is approximately 15 years. Not suitable for a privacy hedge on its own but is often alternated with lilacs. Often used as an accent plant that attracts birds and bees.

Pygmy Caragana is a shrub that is related to Common Caragana and has a compact size that is suitable for yards with limited space. Its size is perfect for landscaping and decorative hedges, and requires little maintenance. This nitrogen fixer has fine-textured foliage and small yellow flowers. Much like Common Caragana, it is hardy and drought tolerant.

Popular as a low maintenance commercial landscaping shrub and for hedging. This species does have tiny spines that might poke you a bit. It has a nice appealing texture when mature.

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Pygmy Caragana Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2b
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 1.2 m (4 ft)
Light: any
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: none

Toxicity: the leaves and seed are slightly toxic

Foliage: purple leaves
Fall colour: dark red
Bark: dark red to purple
Flowers: pinkish
Flowers: prolific tiny yellow pea-like flowers
Fruit: dark red fruit
Seeds: prolific seedpods are edible
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: purpleleaf sandcherry
Other Names: pygmy peashrub