Sandcherry

Bottom Line Up Front:

Sandcherry is a wide ranging and tough shrub that can withstand drought, heat, and ranging soil conditions (like sand). Its blooms are fragrant, feeding tons of insects, and its fruit is delicious and numerous. Because it is in the Prunus genus, it also supports up to 170 species of lepidopterans (caterpillars A.K.A bird food). The purple leafed version is commonly sold, but purple leaves are not eaten as much as normal green ones.

Scientific Name: Prunus pumila (sometimes also seen as Prunus besseyi)

Characteristics: This shrub can range from a sprawling and short growing (1ft) to over 6ft for some sub-species.

Size: 2-4ft tall 2-4ft wide. Some varieties can sprout slightly taller.

Description: Sandcherry is a very widespread and versatile plant. It, just like its name says prefers sand but can also grow in clay. It also comes in a variety of shapes and sizes with some of the same species being short and trailing shrubs that barely reach over a foot all the way to 6 to 7 foot tall shrubs that act as great wind blocks in drier and windier areas. Being in the prunus genus this shrub is a host to over 150 different species of caterpillars and moths meaning that it is a huge bird attractant and helps with feeding many nestlings with its little caterpillar contributions.

Sandcherry is a tough plant being able to survive in sandy conditions and well drained sites, it also loves sunny spots and once it’s established can be quite drought tolerant. It blooms in the spring with a vanilla like scent to its many profuse flowers followed by small leaves after the blooms have started. These blooms are visited by early spring bees and the blooms follow with many hundreds of nickel sized tart cherries.

You can harvest these cherries and make delicious jams and jellies or eat them raw off of the Bush, although when they’re raw they are not as sweet as your tree cherries. Overall this Bush is a great shrugged including your native habitat or even in your food orchard or along the side of your house even with the ability to smell amazing in the spring produce edible fruit and feed many birds with it’s caterpillars that it supports.