Hi Hergrammy - I'm in SW Missouri also. Our utility company gave away purple leaf sandcherries several years ago so I have five in my yard. Only one looks like a tree. The others formed more of a shrub and don't really have a good shape - sort of lop-sided. They do tolerate our heat and drought in the summer and I haven't had any trouble with disease(yet) but they get almost completely defoliated in the summer, then leaf out again and sometimes get defoliated a second time. My little crabapple looses it's leaves also. I don't have any experience with Jane magnolia but tried to grow Black Beauty sambucus and couldn't keep it alive. Do you like redbuds? There are different varieties of those including one with purple leaves. The green leafed ones seem a little tougher though. You could also plant a crape myrtle there if you pick one of the more cold hardy varieties. They're overused in the south so you will find some negative comments about them but it's easy to grow, heat/drought tolerant, and is long blooming. Please feel welcome to also ask about trees or any other gardening questions in the Ozarks Gardening forum here at Gardenweb. The people in that forum will have similar gardening conditions as you so it will be helpful to get their opinions as well. Here is a link that might be useful: Ozarks Region Gardening

I have had this plant for years, I love it just for the dark purple foliage. I tried to find out what it was at a nursery and was told it was a 'wild hibiscus'. I believe now that was a wrong answer. Anyway, sad thing is I lost my last plant winter 2010/2011. I have been trying to track down a replacement (seeds would be fine). Can anyone help - Please! I live in Florida, so did see the flowers, small pinky red, flower only in late season (trying to preserve their species by making some seeds). They do normally drop seeds and you get plenty of baby seedlings, but mine got frosted and I did not get to save any seeds. I had it in a pot, trying to save it over the winter, being as it was my last plant. I'm distraught that I lost that gorgeous dark purple foliage, it was a 'special' plant in a border. I would really like to get another plant or a few seeds..... can anyone help please!

I have a leaf problem on my purple leaf plum tree. I took a leaf sample to a horticulturist at the Fort Worth botanical garden. He was puzzled by the problem and suggested that I plant another tree because purple plums have a 10 year lifespan where I live. He wasn't sure but said it might be a leaf borer or miner. I asked for treatment ideas and he said he didn't know. So, I took my problem to a nursery. Same thing....think its a leaf miner but not sure. They suggested a fertilizer and increase watering because the tree might be sick. The purple leaf and has white circles (like drops of paint) and a lot of holes (bb size). The white spots turn to brown before the hole appears. All old leaves are affected not new growth. Its just a foliage problem. From pics that i have seen, it's not typical of a leaf miner problem. No bugs are on the tree. No mites on the bottom of the leaves. Just white spots and lots of holes. Anyone have any suggestion on what my problem might be and possible treatment?

It's totally common for young tomatoes to have a purplish tinge. Is it a phosphorus deficiency? Probably yes, technically, in the plant, but it's usually a result of an immature root system or stressed root system due to conditions that are hard to avoid in starter pots/cells, etc., so unless there are other signs of nutrient deficiency, IMO it's something that's best ignored rather than risking damage potentially overfertilizing trying to correct it. I've never seen it permanently damage or stunt tomatoes, and they do very well and grow out of it once planted out into the ground/large outdoor container and the weather warms up. I would have lightly fertilized the plant in the photo, as, even ignoring the purple, it looked pale and in need of some nutrients. AND I would have double-checked that the drainage holes were adequate. If you planted it out and didn't fertilize at plant out, I'd give it a one-time shot of something with some nitrogen in it. Something like fish fertilizer, very diluted lawn fertilizer, Miracle Gro, etc. works well. Then, for the rest of the season, fertilize as normal with a tomato-appropriate fertilizer.