Prunus x cerasifera ‘Cripoizam’ P.P.#19, 564
This tree profile is shared for educational purposes. Urban Forest Nursery does not currently grow this variety, but it remains part of ongoing discussions around urban tree selection.
Update 2026: UFN no longer grows the Crimson Point Plum but we still feel it is a worthy tree for the characteristics described in the profile.
There are colleagues in the Pacific Northwest who feel it is dreary enough around here without adding dark trees to our landscape but on occasion the contrast of dark leaves against the light or bright background is just the ticket. Our dark leaved tree list is limited especially for those with narrow form. Fortunately, the relative new Crimson Pointe Flowering Plum tree, gives us more ammo for just that occasion.
The Crimson Pointe Flowering Plum has a tight narrow upright form that will likely max out in height at 25’ but with only a width of 6 to 10 feet. Side note: I often wonder why some narrow varieties get wide, while that same tree will stay narrow in another location. Is that a unique characteristic or another variety? Keith Warren from J. Frank Schmidt Nursery shared with me that we usually find the narrower specimens of a variety in poor soils compared to more broad specimens of that same variety in excellent well drained soils. Makes sense!
The flowers emerge early before most leaf growth. Flowers are white with a hint of purple, and usually cover the entire crown for a good early spring show. Typical plum shaped leaves follow immediately in reddish purple and become darker purple through the summer. Bark is dark, almost black for more great contrast in a light area.
We find transplanting as easy as all other plums with one caution; make sure you have a dense and well distributed root system in your root ball. From growing many tree varieties, we find that the flowering plum tree is one tree with a very limited root system, so good distribution is critical. Have you ever noticed how many flowering plums are leaning? This is part of the reason, in addition to them getting planted too deep.
The Crimson Pointe Plum is easily grown with a high crown, excellent for street tree installation. If limbs become vigorous, or unbalanced, prune strong partially growth back to maintain a dense column. Enjoy your tree!
As always, let me know your experience with this tree.
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Jim Barborinas
Owner of Urban Forest Nursery, Inc.
ISA Certified Arborist #0135
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist #356
15119 McLean Rd.
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
jim@urbanforestnursery.com
What should I know about Crimson Pointe Flowering Plum (Prunus x cerasifera ‘Cripoizam’)?
Here are some common questions we hear from people considering this tree:
We no longer grow this variety, but it is still considered a solid tree. It simply didn’t remain in our production lineup as we refined our offerings, even though it has several strong landscape qualities.
This tree is valued for its narrow, upright form combined with deep purple foliage that holds its color through the season. In early spring, it produces a full display of light-colored flowers before the leaves emerge, creating a strong visual contrast.
Its tight columnar shape makes it especially useful in narrower planting areas, including streets or near buildings. It can be trained with a higher canopy for clearance and responds well to pruning if needed to maintain its form.
Establishment depends heavily on having a well-developed root system at planting. This species tends to have a more limited root structure, so proper planting depth and root distribution are important to prevent leaning and ensure long-term stability.