Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
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Current Stock Height Guides
Current Stock Height Guides
Height guide disclaimer: Height ranges are approximate only. As living products, plant heights naturally vary between individual plants, batches, and seasons. No guarantee is given that supplied plants will fall within the stated range. If minimum heights are required, you mustconfirm current batch heights with Evergreen Trees Direct prior to purchase. Variation in height is normal and is not grounds for return, refund, replacement, or compensation.
Mature Height & Width
Mature Height & Width
Mature Height: 5m (approx.)
Mature Width: 3m (approx.)
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate) (approx.).
Root Ball Dimensions
Root Ball Dimensions
Use this as a reference when digging your planting hole. We recommend digging at least 10% wider than the dimensions below to encourage strong root development.
- 30cm Pot: 33cm (W) × 30cm (D)
- 40cm/45L Pot: 44cm (W) × 41.5cm (D)
- 50cm Pot / 70L Pot: 55cm (W) × 41.8cm (D)
- 100L Bag: 50.6cm (W) × 52.8cm (D)
- 150L Bag: 66cm (W) × 55cm (D)
- 200L Bag: 71.5cm (W) × 60.5cm (D)
- 300L Bag: 88cm (W) × 63.8cm (D)
- 400L Bag: 99cm (W) × 66cm (D)
- 500L Bag: 122cm (W) × 66cm (D)
- 750L Bag: 134cm (W) × 69cm (D)
- 1000L Bag: 146.3cm (W) × 71.5cm (D)
- 2000L Bag: 176cm (W) × 82.5cm (D)
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Trade
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Shipping
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Contact
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Email: sales@evergreentrees.com.au
Phone: (03) 7042 3318
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About Your New Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' is the upright form of the purple-leaf flowering plum. It carries the same deep purple-crimson foliage as the familiar 'Nigra', but in a narrow columnar frame rather than a spreading one.
In early spring, pale pink buds open to a profusion of single white blossom along the bare stems, before the purple foliage flushes through behind it. That sequence is the whole appeal: white blossom against dark branches, then a solid column of purple that holds all summer and turns bronze in autumn.
It reaches around 5 metres tall by 3 metres wide. That narrow habit is the reason to choose it over the standard 'Nigra', which spreads to 4 or 5 metres. It fits a side boundary, a narrow bed or a tight driveway where the spreading form would crowd, and a row of them screens a neighbour without taking the garden.
Full sun gives the strongest foliage colour and the heaviest flowering. It wants free-draining soil and shelter from strong wind. Otherwise it is a hardy, undemanding deciduous tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Upright Flowering Plum
What is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata'?
It is the fastigiate, or upright columnar, form of the purple-leaf flowering plum. Same deep purple foliage and early white blossom as the well-known 'Nigra', but held in a narrow upright frame instead of a spreading canopy. It is also sold as Upright Purple Leaf Cherry Plum or Upright Black Ornamental Plum.
How big does it grow?
Around 5 metres tall by 3 metres wide. The narrow width is the point of the tree, and it is what separates it from standard 'Nigra' at 4 to 5 metres across.
How is it different to Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra'?
Shape only. The foliage, flowering and hardiness are the same. 'Nigra' forms a rounded spreading canopy to 4 or 5 metres wide, while 'Nigra Fastigiata' stays columnar at around 3 metres. Choose the fastigiate form where width is the constraint, such as a side boundary, a narrow bed or a driveway.
When does it flower, and what colour?
Early spring, before the leaves. Pale pink buds open to single white blossom carried the length of the bare stems. The purple foliage follows behind the flowers, so you get white blossom on dark branches first, then the colour.
Does the foliage hold its colour all season?
Yes. The deep purple-crimson holds right through summer rather than fading to green, then turns bronze before leaf drop in autumn. Full sun gives the strongest colour, and it will dull noticeably in shade.
Can I use it for screening?
Yes, and it is one of the better options for a narrow site. Plant 2 to 2.5 metres apart for a screening row. Bear in mind it is deciduous, so the screen drops away over winter, which suits a garden where you want winter sun and summer privacy.
Where does it grow best?
Full sun in free-draining soil, sheltered from strong wind. It is hardy and tolerates most conditions across temperate and cool-climate Australia, from Melbourne and the Victorian districts through the NSW tablelands to Adelaide and Tasmania.
How do I care for it?
Water deeply through the first two summers, then only in extended dry spells. Feed with a slow-release fertiliser in early spring. Prune in late winter while dormant, removing any branch that breaks the upright line. Watch for aphids on soft new growth and for leaf curl in wet springs.
Evergreen Trees Direct Has Been Featured In:
Uses in my Garden
Uses in my Garden
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum works in an:
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Evergreen or Deciduous?
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Evergreen or Deciduous?
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is an Deciduous (Defoliates throughout colder months) Tree
Mature Height & Width
Mature Height & Width
Mature Height: 5m (approx.)
Mature Width: 3m (approx.)
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate) (approx.).
Growth Rate of Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Growth Rate of Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate) (approx.).
They are considered to have a:
Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Frost Tolerance & Ideal Climate to plant Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum frost tolerant?
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is Frost Hardy – Survives heavy and frequent frost without damage.
Does Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Flower?
Does Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Flower?
Pale pink buds open to single white blossom in early spring, carried the length of the bare stems before the foliage appears. The purple leaves flush through behind the flowers, so the display runs from white blossom on dark branches into a solid column of purple.
Does Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum flower?
Flowering Period:
Flower Type:
Flower Colour:
White
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum an Australian Native Tree?
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum an Australian Native Tree?
No
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is Native to The parent species Prunus cerasifera, the cherry plum, comes from south-east Europe and western Asia. 'Nigra Fastigiata' is a selected cultivar, chosen for the combination of deep purple foliage and a narrow upright habit rather than the spreading canopy of the standard purple-leaf plum.
What is the Wildlife Value of Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum ?
What is the Wildlife Value of Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum ?
The early spring blossom of 'Nigra Fastigiata' is a useful nectar and pollen source for bees at a point in the season when little else has opened. Small dark plums may follow the flowering and are taken by birds.
How much Sunlight does Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum need?
How much Sunlight does Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum need?
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum will thrive best in:
Preferred Soil?
Preferred Soil?
'Nigra Fastigiata' grows in most soils provided drainage is free, and does best in a loam with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Heavy clay needs gypsum and compost worked through before planting, or a raised mound. Shelter from strong wind matters as much as soil, since the narrow upright frame catches it.
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Drought Tolerant?
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Drought Tolerant?
Is Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum Drought tolerant?
Water deeply through the first two summers to establish the root system. Once away it copes with moderate dry periods, though it is not a drought tree. In hot inland districts it holds foliage colour better with occasional deep summer watering and mulch over the root zone.
Planting Information
How To Plant Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
How To Plant Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Recommended Planting Spacing For Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum is expected to grow 30cm to 60cm per year (moderate) (approx.).
Long Term Care For Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Long Term Care For Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum
Planting Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum in Different Soil
Planting Your Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra Fastigiata' – Upright Flowering Plum in Different Soil
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
