Western Sand Cherry
Prunus besseyi
Plant Details:
Plant Type: Shrub
Plant Family: Rosaceae
Plant Description: Ornamental shrub with profuse sweet smelling white flowers in spring, followed by large black-red sweet edible fruit. Foliage is silvery green turning to red/purple in autumn. Prefers moist, well drained soil, but can handle hot, dry spots.
Maintenance:
Maintenance Type: Shrub - Thinning
Plant Care: Shrub - Thinning (woody multi-stemmed plants that lose their leaves every winter and look best on older stems): Prune dead, diseased, or rubbing branches. Pruning is best done in late winter to early spring for most shrubs. With spring blooming shrubs, prune after the blooms are spent. Remove up to 1/3rd of the overall shrub, keeping older branches to build up a sturdy, permanent and picturesque framework. Keep in mind that these shrubs bloom directly on older wood or on shoots that come off old wood. Monitor for pests, diseases, or other ailments on a regular basis.
Plant Attributes:
Mature Size: 6' tall x 6' wide
Utah Native: Yes
Nativar: No
Plant Select: Unknown
Pollinator Favorite: Yes
Localscapes: Foundation Plant, Perimeter Plant
Evergreen: No
Foliage Interest: No
Foliage Colors: Silver-Green
Bloom Colors: White
Bloom Seasons: Early Spring
Bloom Period: Mar - Apr
Erosion Control: Yes
Ground Cover: No
Edible: Yes
Fire Wise: Yes
Growing Conditions:
Hardiness Zone: 3 to 6
Light Requirement: Full Sun (6+ hrs sun), Part Shade (4-6 hrs morning sun), Part Sun (4-6 hrs afternoon sun)
Irrigation Requirement: 
Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)
Moderate (1/2" every 7-10 days)
Salt Tolerant: Unknown
Deer Tolerant: Unknown
Garden Location:
-
Not on display
- Not on display
Garden Staff Tips & Insights:
Edibility notes: Small fruits are edible raw, but are less astringent when cooked. Can be used in any application where a standard cherry would be used, though the flesh-to-seed ratio is much smaller in sand cherries.
-
Spring -
Summer -
Fall -
Winter
