Western Sandcherry

Other Names: Sandcherry

Description:

A medium-sized ornamental shrub featuring showy white flowers in spring followed by tart black cherries in summer, good for jams; low growing and wide spreading with good fall color; very hardy and adaptable, excellent for dry locations

Ornamental Features:

Western Sandcherry is draped in stunning fragrant white flowers along the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has grayish green foliage throughout the season. The pointy leaves turn an outstanding orange in the fall. The fruits are deep purple drupes displayed in mid summer, which are excellent for making jams and jellies. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit. The smooth brick red bark is not particularly outstanding.

Landscape Attributes:

Western Sandcherry is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its relatively fine texture sets it apart from other landscape plants with less refined foliage.

This is a relatively low maintenance shrub, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Western Sandcherry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• General Garden Use
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping
• Mass Planting

Plant Characteristics:

Western Sandcherry will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It is very adaptable to both dry and moist growing conditions, but will not tolerate any standing water. It is considered to be drought-tolerant, and thus makes an ideal choice for xeriscaping or the moisture-conserving landscape. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments.

This species is native to parts of North America.