Mayday Cherry vs Western Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Mayday Cherry vs Western Sand Cherry

Prunus padus

Prunus pumila var besseyi

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Mayday Cherry
Western Sand Cherry

Mayday Cherry is a small deciduous tree known for its early blooming and fragrant white flowers.

A favourite specimen tree on prairie homesteads, Mayday Cherry produces small black berries that are inedible to people but highly desirable to birds.

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.

Mayday Cherry Quick Facts

Western Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 9 m (30 ft)
Height: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Spread: 8 m (25 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium

Toxicity: seeds and leaves are toxic if ingested

Foliage: grey-green
Fall colour: reddish-orange
Flowers: early blooming, white
Flowers: white
Fruit: small black berries
Berries: small black berries
Berries: small purple cherries
Seeds: located within the berries
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: SK, MB, ON
Other Names: common bird cherry, european bird cherry