Purple Pony Flowering Plum Tree

Prunus cerasifera 'Purple Pony'

$139⁹⁹

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Understanding Plant Options

Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:

Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements

Container Plant Sizes

Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.

Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2" x 2" x 3"	0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts	0.20 - 0.23 dry liters
4" Container	0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts	0.35 - 0.96 dry liters
4.5" Container	0.65 dry quarts	0.72 dry liters
6" Container	1.4 dry quarts	1.59 dry liters
1 Quart	1 dry quart	1.1 dry liters
5.5" Container	1.89 dry quarts	2.08 dry liters

Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
2 Quart	2 dry quarts	2.2 dry liters
#1 Container	2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts	2.49 - 4.11 dry liters
5" x 5" x 12"	3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts	3.85 - 4.74 dry liters

Mature Plants (2-4 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#2 Container	1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons	5.24 - 7.75 dry liters
#3 Container	2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons	8.14 - 12.16 dry liters

Large Plants (3-5 years old)

Container Size	Actual Volume	Metric Equivalent
#5 Container	2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons	12.86 - 20.35 dry liters
#6 Container	5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons	23.12 - 26.42 dry liters
#7 Container	5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons	26.34 - 28.76 dry liters

Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.

Common Sizes:

Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet

Important Notes

Container Volume Specifications

Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents

Growing Conditions

Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment

Seasonal Availability

Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
Container plants are available throughout the growing season
Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes

Questions?

For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.

Plant Highlights

Purple Pony Flowering Plum Tree highlights at a glance!

Specifications

Brand

Nature Hills' Choice
Botanical Name

Prunus cerasifera 'Purple Pony'
Growing Zones

5-8
Mature Height

15 feet
Mature Spread

15 feet
Sun Exposure

Full Sun, Partial Shade
Moisture

Moderate to Low
Soil

Well Drained
Growth Rate

Medium
Flower Color

Pink
Fall Color

Burgundy / Purple
Pollinator Friendly

Yes
Fragrant

Yes
Pruning Time

When Dormant
Bloom Period

Early Spring

Growing Zones 5-8

Find Your Growing Zone!

Compact Fruitless Purple Pony Plum Tree!

Homeowners across the country have fallen in love with the dwarf Purple Pony Flowering Plum Tree (Prunus cerasifera 'Purple Pony')! This cute ornamental is a very dependable accent with abundant, shell-pink flowers in the early spring!

The beautiful, single pale pink blooms bring in the butterflies as they adorn the bare branches in the spring but are quickly followed by the deep purple foliage. This foliage color does not fade, discolor, dull, or go green! It stays glistening, vivid, and dark red all through the heat of summer.

With smaller yards, the need for dwarf accent trees has never been greater. The ornamental value of the Purple Pony is outstanding. It stays small and has a wonderful shape in the landscape — any size landscape!

This tree stays nice and tidy, too! It features a compact, uniform canopy that won't require much pruning to shape it. You can plant it and enjoy it, knowing it won't give you trouble.

And Purple Pony Plum has been observed since 1962! It is considered sterile because it doesn't produce fruit, it won't mess up the yard, walkway, or driveway! It is a wonderful Flowering Plum that is a non-fruiting tree.

The delightful characteristics of the Purple Pony Plum make it a must-have for today's landscape. This is a fine selection that will be enjoyed in the yard for many years to come.

How to Use Purple Pony Plum in the Landscape

With lot sizes shrinking, the dwarf Purple Pony Plum is the perfect tree to add a spot of brilliance throughout the yard with little extra effort. From the light pink blooms to the gorgeous leaves all season, you can use this as a small anchor tree for garden beds.

With its attractive shape, it's dressy enough for front yard plantings. Try this as a single specimen at the corner of your house, or plant one on either side of your front door.

You'll love the look of a long, straight row of individual Purple Pony Plum trees lining a driveway. A hedgerow would also work beautifully as a long backdrop along the back fence of a property. This is a beautiful way to add height to an existing fence.

The uniform growth of the trees gives a consistent look in these applications. For individual trees, plant them 10 to 12 feet apart. You'll measure from the trunk of one to the trunk of the next.

For a hedgerow, where the branches will grow together and touch, shorten the planting distance to 8 to 10 feet between each trunk.

You can leave the lower branches growing low on the trunk for a beautiful specimen or privacy screen. You'll gain more blooms in spring and a gorgeous foliage display.

Or, limb up any low branches back to the trunk if you'd like to use it as a small shade tree. You'll gain more room under the canopy. Just imagine you and a friend in a pair of comfy chairs and a pitcher of lemonade or cocktails. How fun!

A pretty tree like this can also be used to create walls of garden rooms. Carve out a special place for yourself in your yard.

Purple Pony Plum can be used in unlimited ways in the landscape. This is truly the ideal accent tree for the limited lot size of today's average-size urban properties.

Dark Purple Leaves
Sweet-Scented Pink Flowers For Pollinators
Foliage Color Won't Fade
Burgundy Fall Foliage
Fruitless Sterile Flowers - No Mess!
Small Accent Tree - Ideal for Small Yards
Easy To Include Accents, Lawn & Specimen Trees

#ProPlantTips for Care

Plant this Dwarf Flowering Plum in full sun, or in partial sun where it will get afternoon shade, especially in hotter climates. Give it regular watering to get it established in your yard. Once it's become established, it can tolerate periodic drought.

Easy care trees, plant them in rich organic soil that has good drainage. While this tree tolerates a wide range of soil types, please note that it does require good drainage. Where poor drainage is suspected, plant the Purple Pony on a mound or raised bed 12 to 18 inches above the soil line.

The Purple Pony displays good disease resistance, has a sterile flower (so it will not produce fruit), and has become very popular in the colder zones of USDA 5 and 6.

Light pruning is best done in fall, winter, or summer. You won't want to miss any of the flowers, after all.

Full Sun & Afternoon/Part Shade In Hot Climates
Must Have Well-Drained Soil
Moderate Moisture Needs
Prune When Dormant
Good Disease Resistance!
Cold Hardy

People are searching for these beautiful young trees. If you see it in stock, please place your order today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How big do Purple Pony Flowering Plum Trees get?

Purple Pony Ornamental Plum Trees can obtain 15 feet in mature height and width in optimal conditions.

How fast do Purple Pony Plum Trees grow?

Purple Pony Plum Trees are medium-growth rate trees and can gain about a foot or so of growth per year in optimal conditions.

Are Purple Leaf Plum Trees messy? Do Purple Pony Plum Trees lose their leaves?

Purple Pony Plum Tree will drop its leaves in the fall but otherwise is not any more or less messy than your typical deciduous tree. Plus it is fruitless because of its sterile flowers!

What Shipping Options Do You Offer?

NatureHills.com works closely with our growers and nursery professionals to ensure we ship when it is most appropriate for your area. Our goal is to deliver the hardiest plants by avoiding extreme high and low temperatures. Check out our shipping schedule for more information and to learn our wills and won'ts when it comes to shipping plants, both bareroot, and containers. Find your Purple Pony Plum Tree for sale here at NatureHills.com!

Very impressed!

I have had this tree for a little under a year. It has been practically neglected and yet grew strong roots, put on tons of growth, and has had no pests. It was the last plant to lose its leaves and is one of the first to bloom. I can not recommend This beautiful tree enough. I can't wait for it to get even bigger!

Dear Zil,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with your tree! We’re thrilled to hear how resilient and vibrant it has become under your care, even with minimal attention. It’s always inspiring to learn about these thriving plants—they truly prove their worth when they grow strong roots and bloom beautifully. Since you’re excited for it to get even bigger, remember that regular watering during dry spells and occasional feeding with a balanced fertilizer can really encourage healthy growth. If you ever have questions or want more tips as your tree continues to flourish, we're here for you.

Wishing you happy planting,
The Nature Hills Plant Experts

Very impressed!

Dear Zil S.,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with your tree! We're delighted to hear that despite a bit of neglect, it has thrived so beautifully with strong roots, impressive growth, and a healthy, pest-free season. It truly speaks to the resilience and quality of the tree you chose. Watching it be among the last to shed leaves and first to bloom must be such a rewarding sight!

If you’re hoping to encourage even more growth as it matures, feel free to reach out anytime—we’d be happy to provide tips on fertilizing or pruning that can help nurture its potential. Also, keeping light watering routine and mulching can support healthy roots as it expands.

Thanks again for recommending this tree and for your trust in Nature Hills. We’re excited to see it thrive for many seasons to come!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

Quick growing, hardy and beautiful

The tree arrived as a stick with one branch in a y shape. I planted it in full blazing sun in spring of this year. I did minimal watering and am in zone 7. Despite me not babying it the tree has grown fast and beautifully. In about 6 months it has put on almost 3 ft of growth. The leaves are a beautiful color that have not faded or scorched at all.

Dear Zil,

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your wonderful experience with your new tree! We’re thrilled to hear how well it’s doing—even with such minimal watering and those sunny springtime trials in zone 7. It’s fantastic that the tree has shown such robust growth and vibrant foliage without any scorching, which truly speaks to its hardiness and your attentive planting spot choice.

If you ever want to optimize care further, remember that occasional deep watering during prolonged dry spells can support even stronger root development, and mulching can help retain soil moisture and regulate temperature. We’re here anytime if you’d like personalized tips or printable care guides for your particular tree species.

Thank you again for trusting Nature Hills. It’s a joy to be part of your gardening story!

Rooting for your garden’s success,
Your Nature Hills Plant Care Team

Quick growing, hardy and beautiful

Hi Zil S.,

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience with your tree! We're delighted to hear that despite minimal watering and the intense sun in zone 7, your tree has thrived beautifully and grown nearly 3 feet in just six months. It sounds like the planting spot and your care approach were just right for this hardy, quick-growing variety. The rich color and health of the leaves you describe truly speak to the toughness of this tree.

If you ever want tips on pruning, fertilizing, or expanding your garden with new companions that enjoy similar conditions, we’d love to help out. Don’t hesitate to check our growing guides or reach out anytime for tailored plant care advice.

Flowering values like yours inspire us!

Bloom on,
The Nature Hills Plant Knowledge Team

My Purple Pony

Although this arrived looking a little more than a twig (it lost all leaves in shipping and was bone dry), I followed the instructions, soaked it overnight in a bucket and planted the very next day. I am happy to say it is now thriving and I cannot wait for it to grow! Even my neighbors have commented on the beautiful purple leaves.

Dear Cheri,

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with your Purple Pony! We truly appreciate you trusting our planting instructions despite its initial twig-like condition. It’s wonderful to hear that your pony is now thriving and delighting both you and your neighbors with those stunning purple leaves. Your patience and care really made all the difference!

If you ever need any tips to keep your Purple Pony flourishing or choose companions for your growing garden, feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you nurture your plants every step of the way.