Pin Cherry vs Western Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Pin Cherry vs Western Sand Cherry

Prunus pensylvanica

Prunus pumila var besseyi

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Pin Cherry
Western Sand Cherry

Pin Cherry is a small tree that produces clusters of white blossoms in spring followed by bright red berries that ripen through the summer. The attractive red color of the leaves in the fall is an added bonus.

The fruit is quite sour when eaten fresh but is excellent when cooked into jam or jelly. Birds love the berries and will be attracted to your property.

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.

Pin Cherry Quick Facts

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Foliage: grey-green
Fall colour: very bright orangish-red
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Bark: reddish brown bark has an attractive appearance in the winter
Flowers: white
Flowers: white
Fruit: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Berries: small purple cherries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, NT, PE
Native to: SK, MB, ON
Other Names: bird cherry, fire cherry, pincherry, red cherry, wild red cherry