Pin Cherry vs Purple Leaf Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Pin Cherry vs Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

Prunus pensylvanica

Prunus x cistena

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

CUSTOM GROW

Pin Cherry
Purple Leaf 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.

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry provides bright reddish-purple leaves that turn bronze-green in the fall. In the spring, tiny flowers with a pinkish white hue bloom. The flowers are small, but the impact comes from the shrub blossoming all at once.

The Purple leaf sand cherry can be susceptible to pests and diseases in more humid areas; a typical life span is approximately 15 years. Not suitable for a privacy hedge on its own but is often alternated with lilacs. Often used as an accent plant that attracts birds and bees.

Pin Cherry Quick Facts

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: low
Maintenance: medium


Toxicity: the leaves and seed are slightly toxic
Foliage: purple leaves
Fall colour: very bright orangish-red
Fall colour: dark red
Bark: reddish brown bark has an attractive appearance in the winter
Bark: dark red to purple
Flowers: white
Flowers: pinkish
Fruit: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Fruit: dark red fruit
Berries: clusters of edible, red cherries often used for jams and jellies
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


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