PAWNEE BUTTES® Sand Cherry

Prunus besseyi 'P011S'

PAWNEE BUTTES Sand Cherry | White flowering shrub in spring | Plant Select
Prunus besseyi | Red shrub in fall | Plant Select
Green summer leaves on this form of native sand cherry | Plant Select
PAWNEE BUTTES® sand cherry is a graceful, ground covering form of our native sand cherry shrub. Fragrant, white flowers attract pollinators in April. By summer, this low-growing shrub produces heavy crops of black cherries that are attractive to birds and other wildlife. The lustrous, green leaves turn bright red and purple in the fall.

PAWNEE BUTTES® sand cherry is a native selection—a plant found in the wild that was selected for unique, naturally-occurring traits, including its low stature. (Most sand cherries grow five to six feet tall.)

Tips from the pros: Give it plenty of room to grow horizontally. Occasional hand pruning of small limbs will keep this well-behaved plant in a beautiful shape.

Botanical name note: Prunus besseyi is a synonym for Prunus pumila var. besseyi.
Plant Type Shrub
Height 15-18 inches
Width 4-6 feet
Flowering Season Early spring
Flower Color White
Sun Sun, Part Sun
Water Needs Moderate to xeric
USDA Hardiness Zone Zones 3-8
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sandy
Deer Resistant No
Good for Pollination Yes
Winter Interest Yes
North American Native Yes
Native Origins CO, IA, KS, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, OR, SD, UT, WI, WY
Year Introduced 2000
Annual Commercial Maintenance After it's mature, select a few larger branches and prune them off to about 6" above ground. Let plant rejuvenate.
5-10 Year Commercial Maintenance In the spring, trim all height back to less than 8-12" and allow it to rejuvinate. (If you do annual maintenance, this care likely won't be needed.)
Elevation Guide Up to 8150 ft

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