Sand Cherry
Prunus pumila
Also listed as Cerasus pumila, Microcerasus pumila
Also known as Dwarf Cherry
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sand Cherry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
A low-growing, spreading shrub native to sandy soils that produces small white flowers in spring followed by dark red to black edible cherries. Highly cold-hardy and drought-tolerant, it is excellent for stabilizing sandy areas and providing wildlife food.
Why grow it
Sand Cherry outperforms most ornamental shrubs in extreme drought and sandy soil conditions where many alternatives struggle. Unlike larger cherry species, its spreading habit and modest mature size (typically 3-6 feet) make it practical for erosion control and site stabilization on marginal land. The fruit is edible but tart, better suited to processing than fresh eating, distinguishing it from sweeter cultivated cherry varieties.
Watch out for
Fruit production can be inconsistent year to year depending on spring frost timing and winter severity, even in cold-hardy regions. Dense growth habit benefits from occasional thinning to maintain vigor and reduce disease pressure in humid climates. Self-fertile plants may produce heavily in some years and lightly in others without obvious cause.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America (Great Lakes and northern Great Plains)
Native to: Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A low-growing, spreading shrub native to sandy soils that produces small white flowers in spring followed by dark red to black edible cherries. Highly cold-hardy and drought-tolerant, it is excellent for stabilizing sandy areas and providing wildlife food.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Sand Cherry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sand Cherry outperforms most ornamental shrubs in extreme drought and sandy soil conditions where many alternatives struggle. Unlike larger cherry species, its spreading habit and modest mature size (typically 3-6 feet) make it practical for erosion control and site stabilization on marginal land. The fruit is edible but tart, better suited to processing than fresh eating, distinguishing it from sweeter cultivated cherry varieties.
Watch out for
Fruit production can be inconsistent year to year depending on spring frost timing and winter severity, even in cold-hardy regions. Dense growth habit benefits from occasional thinning to maintain vigor and reduce disease pressure in humid climates. Self-fertile plants may produce heavily in some years and lightly in others without obvious cause.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
North America (Great Lakes and northern Great Plains)
Native to: Colorado, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar shrubs you might consider:
Enter your ZIP code to see top native species and strong climate fits for you.