Question
Are the plums from a ornamental purple tree edible

Answer
Plum trees are divided into fruiting varieties and ornamental or flowering varieties. Every kind sold locally as an ornamental or flowering plum has purplish leaves, so the term purpleleaf plum is also used synonymously to signify decorative varieties. Several purpleleaf plums, however, not only bear attractive white or pink flowers, but also produce fruit so heavily that they've earned reputations as "edible ornamental plants." Examples of such purpleleaf edible-fruited plums include 'Allred', 'Hollywood', 'Trailblazer' and 'Spencer Hollywood'. All four varieties can produce plums for eating on a par with Japanese or European fruiting plums. Other purpleleaf plums such as 'Pissardii' and 'Thundercloud' also make plums, but not as many, or of inferior quality. The only way to tell is try them--edible plums will be sweet non will be sour when ripe. Also edible are larger while non are very small and usually hard.