WateringTimesWatering plan, $19
Prunus cerasifera, WUCOLS IV

How often to water Krauter Vesuvius purple plum in California

In July in the Central Valley, established Krauter Vesuvius purple plum in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days: about 55 gallons each time under a 10 foot canopy, about 47 gallons a week. Krauter Vesuvius is a purple-leaf flowering plum grown for its dark purple foliage and pink spring flowers rather than for fruit, which is sparse and seldom develops. It needs full sun to hold its deepest leaf color and even, moderate soil moisture through the growing season. Standing water around the trunk and wet foliage both invite problems this tree is prone to.

TreeRated for 6 of 6 zones

How often to water Krauter Vesuvius purple plum, month by month

Your city
Canopy width
10 ft
Your soil

Type your city above and the days between waterings and the gallons appear here, worked out from your city's climate table. Or read the figures by climate zone further down.

Every month, on your water days. The personal plan prints this for Krauter Vesuvius purple plum and the rest of your yard, on the days your water supplier allows.Get the plan for $19

How this is worked out: established roots fill the top 1.5 feet of soil, and you water again when that soil has dried halfway. Loam soil holds about 1.5 inches of water per foot. Water the whole area under the branches, and skip a watering after a good soaking rain.

Which soil do you have?

Dig down a few inches, take a handful of moist soil and squeeze it.

  • Sandy: gritty, falls apart when you open your hand, will not form a ball.
  • Loam: forms a soft ball that crumbles when you poke it.
  • Clay: forms a firm, sticky ball and squeezes out into a ribbon between thumb and finger.

Still not sure? Pick loam. Most garden beds sit between sand and clay.

How to measure canopy width

A tree with its canopy width marked across the widest branches and the circle under it shaded blue

Measure across the branches, from the tips of the outer leaves on one side to the tips on the other. A tape works, or pace it out.

Water the whole circle under the branches, shown in blue. The gallons here cover that circle.

A wider canopy means more gallons each watering, not more waterings. While the tree is young, measure again each spring.

How to tell it needs water

  • Soil dry several inches down beneath an established tree signals it needs a deep soak
  • Faded purple foliage warrants a light check, since this cultivar develops its richest color in full sun
  • Wilting leaves in afternoon heat over dry soil can indicate thirst
  • Standing water beside the purple plum's trunk is a warning that its required drainage is missing
  • Small purplish spots on new leaves that later drop out into holes point to shot hole disease, which spreads fastest on wet foliage

How to water it

  • Water the soil beneath the canopy and a short distance beyond the drip line rather than against the trunk
  • Soak the root zone deeply, then let the top few inches dry before watering again
  • Use drip irrigation or a soaker hose instead of overhead sprinklers that wet the leaves
  • Plant on a slight mound or improve drainage in heavy clay so water does not collect at the crown
  • Widen the watered area as the canopy grows wider each year

Through the seasons

Give a newly planted Krauter Vesuvius plum steady moisture through its first couple of summers while its roots establish. Established trees have some drought tolerance, but this moderate water plum still needs soil checks during spring growth and summer heat. This deciduous tree flowers in spring, leafs out in purple and drops its leaves for winter, with watering mattering most during that growing stretch. Winter and spring rain bring disease risk along with moisture, since wet foliage spreads shot hole fungus. WUCOLS rates this plum moderate water on the north-central coast, in the Central Valley, on the south coast, in South Inland and in the high desert and the low desert.

In pots

While a young Krauter Vesuvius plum waits in a nursery container, plan its permanent planting site. Check the top two inches of mix often during California summer heat, since a container dries faster than garden soil. Water until it drains through the holes, then empty the saucer so roots are not left sitting in it. Give the pot full sun, since shade dulls the purple leaf color this tree is grown for. In winter, water less often as the bare branches rest, but do not let the root ball dry out completely.

1 Your climate zone six WUCOLS zones, each from its own reference city
2.67gal per sq ft in JulyModerate water use in the Central Valley zone
A year
17.11 gal per sq ft
Reference
Sacramento climate table
Counts
Plant need, before sprinkler losses
0.761.52.33.00.4JAN0.65FEB1.09MAR1.52APR2.08MAY2.48JUN2.67JUL2.39AUG1.8SEP1.18OCT0.56NOV0.34DEC0.761.52.33.00.4JFM1.52AMJ2.67JAS1.18OND
Gallons per square foot per month, Central Valley. Peak 2.67 in Jul, 17.11 a year.

Monthly water need by climate zone

Krauter Vesuvius Purple Plum: gallons per square foot per month, by WUCOLS climate zone

MonthN. CoastC. ValleyS. CoastS. InlandHi DesertLo Desert
Jan0.370.40.780.780.740.78
Feb0.530.650.810.870.930.93
Mar0.871.091.151.31.461.52
Apr1.181.521.41.611.891.95
May1.462.081.611.952.392.45
Jun1.612.481.742.292.852.79
Jul1.612.671.982.513.042.85
Aug1.492.391.862.332.792.6
Sep1.241.81.491.862.142.08
Oct0.871.181.151.331.461.49
Nov0.470.560.840.90.930.96
Dec0.310.340.650.680.650.68
Year1217.1115.518.4121.2721.08

How this is worked out: the WUCOLS water rating for each zone times that zone’s climate for the month. A dash means WUCOLS does not rate the plant there. The figures are what the plant uses, before sprinkler losses.

Plants with the same water needs 16

Rated moderate water in the Central Valley, like Krauter Vesuvius purple plum. Plants that drink alike can share one valve and one schedule.

Citrus TreesCitrus spp.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyJapanese MapleAcer palmatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAvocado TreesPersea americanamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyMagnolia TreesMagnolia grandiflora ssp. & cvs.moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPalm TreesSyagrus romanzoffiana (Arecastrum romanzoffianum)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyApple TreesMalus spp. (edible) e.g, 'Anna' (low chill variety for low desert)moderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPeach TreesPrunus spp. ediblemoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyPersimmon TreesDiospyros kakimoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyAmur MapleAcer ginnalamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyFernleaf MapleAcer japonicummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyBox ElderAcer negundomoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyNorway MapleAcer platanoidesmoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed MapleAcer rubrummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyChinese MapleAcer truncatummoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed BuckeyeAesculus paviamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in JulyRed HorsechestnutAesculus x carneamoderate water, Central Valley2.67 gal/sq ft in July

Similar plants that need less water 16

Rated lower than Krauter Vesuvius purple plum in the Central Valley. Worth a look for a new bed or a lawn replacement.

Olive TreesOlea europaea ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyFig TreesFicus carica ssp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyCrape MyrtleLagerstroemia spp., hybrids & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyAloeAloe spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPomegranate TreesPunica granatumlow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyEucalyptusEucalyptus polyanthemoslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPine TreesPinus canariensislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyJunipersJuniperus spp. & cvs.low water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyTexas Red OakQuercus buckleyilow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyPortuguese OakQuercus faginealow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySoapbark TreeQuillaja saponarialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyNecklace TreeSophora affinislow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyBailey AcaciaAcacia baileyanalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySilver WattleAcacia dealbatalow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulyGreen WattleAcacia decurrenslow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in JulySydney Golden WattleAcacia longifolialow water, Central Valley1.07 gal/sq ft in July
Minutes for your sprinklers

Turn this into minutes on your water days

Every city page has a calculator that takes Krauter Vesuvius purple plum, your sprinkler type and the month, and gives the minutes per water day for that supplier's schedule. Or put it in a zone of the personal watering plan and get all twelve months printed.

Questions people ask

How often should I water Krauter Vesuvius purple plum in summer?

In July, established Krauter Vesuvius purple plum in loam needs a deep watering about every 8 days in the Central Valley, about every 11 days on the south coast and about every 9 days in the South Inland zone. Sandy soil holds less water, so waterings come closer together. Clay stretches them. Check the soil before each watering and skip one after a soaking rain.

How much water does Krauter Vesuvius purple plum need per day?

In July in the Central Valley, established Krauter Vesuvius purple plum needs about 6.8 gallons a day under a 10 foot canopy and about 27 gallons a day under a 20 foot canopy. Give it in deep waterings spread days apart rather than a little every day, so the whole root zone gets wet.

Does watering for Krauter Vesuvius purple plum change across California?

Yes. WUCOLS rates Krauter Vesuvius purple plum separately for each of the six California climate zones: moderate water in the North-Central Coastal zone, moderate water in the Central Valley zone, moderate water in the South Coastal zone, moderate water in the South Inland zone, moderate water in the High and Intermediate Desert zone, moderate water in the Low Desert zone. The monthly table above shows how the same rating translates into different gallon amounts as reference evapotranspiration changes.

Why are my purple plum leaves turning green?

Check how much direct sun reaches the canopy, since full sun gives this cultivar its strongest color. Check moisture separately before watering; faded foliage alone does not establish that the roots are dry.

Does Krauter Vesuvius plum produce fruit?

It can set a little fruit, but this cultivar is grown mainly for foliage and flowers, not for a crop. Any fruit tends to be sparse and inconsistent from year to year. Do not expect a reliable harvest the way you would from a fruiting plum variety.

Why do my plum leaves have small holes in them?

Shot hole can cause purple spots whose centers fall out, leaving small holes. On plums, it is associated with unusually wet weather and nearby susceptible hosts. Direct irrigation onto soil to avoid wetting new foliage.

Can Krauter Vesuvius plum handle clay soil?

It can grow in clay if water drains away, but avoid a site that remains saturated. Where drainage is poor, choose a raised planting area rather than relying on amended backfill.

Is this the same tree people grow for edible plums?

Krauter Vesuvius is an ornamental selection valued for dark foliage and pink flowers. Its light fruiting makes it a poor choice when the main aim is a plum harvest.

When does Krauter Vesuvius plum bloom?

Pink flowers appear in spring around the time the leaves emerge. Inspect the soil during bloom, and keep irrigation off the blossoms and new foliage.

More plant watering guides

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Sources