Sand Cherry (Prunus beseyii)

Description

This plant is restricted for shipment to CA, ID, WA, OR, or Canada.

Latin Name: Prunus beseyii

Other Common Names: Sand Cherry, Hansen’s Bush Cherry

Hardiness Zones: 4-8

Mature Size: This shrub-like plant typically reaches a height of 2-5 ft (0.5-1.5 m) and spreads about 2-6 ft (0.5-2 m) wide (Uncommon Fruit).

Preferred Soil and Climate: Sand Cherry is moderately cold-hardy and thrives in loamy soils with good drainage, ideally in full sun to part shade conditions (Uncommon Fruit).

Additional Notes: This low-maintenance shrub usually begins fruiting 2-4 years after planting or transplanting. The fruit is commonly enjoyed fresh, in jams, jellies, or pies. Minimal pruning is needed for shaping purposes. Sand Cherry is drought-tolerant (Uncommon Fruit). It features silvery-green foliage and white flowers, with the fruit being purple-black and sweet, suitable for fresh consumption, drying, or processing into jellies and pies. Widely planted in rural areas for wildlife food and habitat, the fruit is particularly favored by songbirds. It provides nesting cover for several bird species and serves as loafing and roosting cover for both songbirds and game birds. Deer browses on its foliage.

Common Issues: Sand Cherry is susceptible to plum curculio, powdery mildew, black knot, and leaf spot (Uncommon Fruit).

Wildlife: Sand Cherry attracts bees, birds, and butterflies (Uncommon Fruit).

Cold Stream Farm supplies Sand Cherry trees which are grown as bare root seedlings and transplants and sold both wholesale and retail with no minimum order.

Source:

• Uncommon Fruit: Western Sand Cherry