The Sand Cherry

With a common name like sand cherry, the Prunus Cistena doesn't sound particularly lovely. But once a year in early spring, the purplish-red shrub blooms with white flowers. These buds are an early spring highlight in our perennial gardens to the north and south of the lawn.

After the blooms go away, the purple foliage provides a colorful anchor in the gardens, and acts as a vibrant foil to the deep green shrubs and trees that form a backdrop in our lawn's borders.

Instagram user pflugerc also caught the Prunus Cistena in bloom above our delicate tulips last week.