Purple leaf sand cherry - Ask Extension
Part of my shrub has leaves that have shriveled and died this spring. one stalk looks fine. the affected ones have some infection in the trunk. I'm ...
Knowledgebase
Purple leaf sand cherry #907873
Asked June 30, 2025, 2:55 PM EDT
Part of my shrub has leaves that have shriveled and died this spring. one stalk looks fine. the affected ones have some infection in the trunk. I'm inclined to cut off the infected part but am concerned about spreading a disease.
Washington County Minnesota
Expert Response
The oozing is probably gummosis . Sand cherries are in the same family as cherries.
https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/deciduous/prunus/branchessticky.html
https://www.montana.edu/cope/email-format/admin/view.php?draft=13145&uid=6674985cd428d2.69238856
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2011/7-13/gummosis.html
The dead limbs can be pruned off. To prevent pruning from spreading disease sanitize your pruners or loppers after each cut by dipping or wetting the blades with isopropyl alcohol and lighting it. Remember the flame is going to flare upwards a bit.
Leaf buds are formed in the fall and branches that winterkilled can leaf out before looking dead.
https://apps.extension.umn.edu/garden/diagnose/plant/deciduous/prunus/branchessticky.html
https://www.montana.edu/cope/email-format/admin/view.php?draft=13145&uid=6674985cd428d2.69238856
https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/article/2011/7-13/gummosis.html
The dead limbs can be pruned off. To prevent pruning from spreading disease sanitize your pruners or loppers after each cut by dipping or wetting the blades with isopropyl alcohol and lighting it. Remember the flame is going to flare upwards a bit.
Leaf buds are formed in the fall and branches that winterkilled can leaf out before looking dead.
