Western Sand Cherry vs Sour Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Western Sand Cherry vs Sour Cherry

Prunus pumila var besseyi

Prunus cerasus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Western Sand Cherry
Sour Cherry

Western Sand Cherry is known for its unique, leathery grey-green foliage and beautiful white blossoms. It is a popular ornamental shrub in parks and front yards. Both you and the wildlife will love its edible small dark red to purple cherries.

Due to its small stature and spreading qualities, Western Sandcherry is suitable as an underplanting or groundcover.

Many people graft plum and cherry varieties to Western Sand Cherry and use it as rootstock. It is also popular to graft hardy apricots to.

Sour Cherry is cold-hardy and typically grows as a small tree. In late spring, it produces clusters of fragrant white blossoms that mature into bright red, tart fruit. Although the cherries can be eaten fresh, they are most commonly used in baking and preserves.

While not native to North America, Sour Cherry serves as a larval host plant for the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), a butterfly native to eastern North America.

Sour cherries are self-fertile; however, planting near additional cherry trees for cross-pollination can increase yields.

This Sour Cherry is produced from seed collected from an Evans Cherry and is not clonally reproduced.

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Sour Cherry Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $10.99 - SAVE UP TO 8%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Height: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Light: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: grey-green
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: white
Berries: small purple cherries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: SK, MB, ON