Prunus pumila
Origin: Ontario, Canada
Improvement status: Wild
Seeds per packet: ~10
BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED
Life cycle: Perennial
Eastern sand cherry is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. It typically grows up to 4-6 feet tall and is often used as a landscape plant for its attractive foliage and showy pink flowers. It tends to have a dense, spreading form. Its green leaves turn yellow or orange in fall.
The white flowers bloom in early spring and are followed by tasty little dark-purple or red fruits that can be turned into excellent jams, jellies, and pies. Like most of our wild cherries and plums (with a few exceptions), sand cherries are largely in decline across their range — but thankfully they are easy to grow and widely adapted. They can tolerate a wide range of soil types, but prefer moist, well-drained soils in full sun to part shade. The plants are drought-tolerant but performance is improved by regular watering during times of drought.
This shrub is also an excellent choice for attracting wildlife, especially birds. Eastern sand cherry is also an excellent addition to sandy dunes where it's roots will help retain soil & provide protection from erosion.
Our Ontario-grown seed comes from the good folks at Sheffield's Seeds, in Locke, NY.
GROWING TIPS: Seeds should be soaked in warm water for 24 hours, then warm-moist stratified for 60 days, before cold-moist stratification for 120 days (but you might want to start checking on them every week or so after 60 days, in case some begin to sprout). Plant immediately upon removal from the fridge, and protect seeds and seedlings from rodents.
