Learn How to Grow and Care for Newport Plum Tree

Newport Plum Tree – According to the Arbor Day Foundation, strategically planted trees in a landscape can increase the value of a home by up to 20%. While enormous trees may offer us shade, help us save money on heating and cooling expenditures, and provide wonderful texture and autumn color to our landscape, not every urban yard has the room to accommodate them. Small decorative trees, on the other hand, may provide charm, beauty, and value to even the smallest of homes and businesses.

As a landscape designer and garden shop employee, I often recommend smaller ornamental for these types of circumstances. A variety of Newport plum (Prunus cerasifera ‘Neportii’) comes to mind as one of my first recommendations. Continue reading this post for more information on the Newport plum, as well as useful hints on how to cultivate a Newport plum.

What is a Newport Plum Tree, and Where can I Find one?

The Newport plum is a tiny, decorative tree that reaches 15-20 feet (4.5-6 m) tall and spreads. It is native to the Pacific Northwest. They are hardy in climates ranging from zones 4 to 9. The light pink to white flowers that appear in the spring and the deep purple-colored foliage that appears throughout the spring, summer, and autumn are the most notable characteristics of this plum.

A variety of rose-pink Newport plum flowers occur all throughout the tree’s circular canopy, depending on the area. These buds unfold to reveal blooms ranging from light pink to white in color. The blossoms of the Newport plum are particularly valuable as nectar plants for early pollinators such as the mason bee and monarch butterflies heading north for summer breeding.

After the blossoms have faded, Newport plum trees yield little plum fruits with a diameter of 1 inch (2.5 cm). In part because of the tiny fruits produced by this variety of plum tree, the Newport plum is included in the group of cherry plum trees, and the variety of Newport plum is often referred to as the Newport cherry plum. Birds, squirrels, and other small animals are attracted to the fruit, although deer are seldom affected by the tree’s fruit or leaves.

Humans may also consume the fruits of the Newport plum tree. On the other hand, these trees, on the other hand, are primarily cultivated as ornamental because of their beautiful blossoms and foliage. A single specimen of Newport plum planted in the landscape will not yield a significant amount of fruit.

Taking Care of Your Newport Plum Trees

The University of Minnesota was the first to introduce Newport plum trees into the wild in 1923. Even farther back in time, it has been difficult to identify their origins, although it is thought that they are indigenous to the Middle East.

Despite the fact that it is not a native of the United States, it is a widely planted ornamental tree across the nation. The Newport plum is considered to be the cold-hardiest of the cherry plum trees, although it does well in the southern United States as well.

The optimal conditions for growing Newport plum trees are full sun. Plants will thrive on clay, loam, and sandy soils. A somewhat alkaline soil is tolerated by the Newport plum, although an acidic soil is preferred. The nicest coloration of the ovate purple leaves will be achieved in acidic soil.

The color of fresh leaves and branches in the spring will be a reddish-purple, which will develop into a darker purple as the foliage matures in the summer. Japanese beetles are particularly attracted to the purple leaves of this tree, which is a drawback to having it in your yard.

However, there are several DIY Japanese beetle cures and natural medicines that may be used to manage these destructive insects without affecting our helpful pollinators or beneficial insects.