Prunus besseyi
Common name: 
Sand Cherry
Western Sand Cherry
Pronunciation: 
PROO-nus BES-se-i
Family: 
Rosaceae
Genus: 
Prunus
Synonyms: 
Prunus pumila var. besseyi
Type: 
Broadleaf
Native to (or naturalized in) Oregon: 
No
  • Deciduous shrub, suckering, spreading, to 4-6 ft (1.2-1.6 m) tall and wide.  Leaves alternate, simple, oval, oval-lanceolate, occasionally obovate, 4.5-6.5 cm long, 1-2.5 cm wide, narrower on fruiting branches, margin finely serrate, tip acute, base often wedge-shaped, upper surface dark to gray-green.  Flowers white, appear with leaves, about 15 mm across, 5 petals, 25-30 stamens.  Fruit globose to ovoid, about 15 mm, purplish-black, glossy; edible, used for pies, jellies and jams.
  • Sun to part shade.  Tolerates cold, heat, wind, and drought.
  • Hardy to USDA Zone 3     Native range from Manitoba to Wyoming and Colorado, east to Minnesota and Kansas.
  • In the botanical literature this plant is more commonly listed as one of thee varieties (var.) of Prunus pumila, Sand Cherry, that is Prunus pumila var. besseyi, Western Sand Cherry.   The other varieties are P. p. var. pumila, Great Lakes Sandcherry, and P. p. var. susquehanae, Susquehana Sand Cherry.
  • besseyi: after Charles E. Bessey (1845-1915), American botanist, considered one of the great developers of botanical education in the U.S.
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  • plant habit, flowering

    plant habit, flowering

  • flowers

    flowers

  • plant habit, summer

    plant habit, summer

  • shoot tip

    shoot tip

  • leaves

    leaves

  • leaf

    leaf

  • winter plant habit and twig, buds

    winter plant habit and twig, buds