# sand cherry (*Prunus pumila*)

The sand cherry is a small shrub that grows close to the ground. It has beautiful white flowers in spring and tasty dark cherries in summer that birds love to eat!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Snaps:** 4
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![sand cherry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Prunus_pumila%252C_South_Ste._Marys_Island.JPG&width=800)

Photo: Super cyclist at English Wikipedia, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prunus_pumila%252C_South_Ste._Marys_Island.JPG)

## Appearance

The sand cherry is a low, spreading shrub with narrow, shiny green leaves. In spring, it bursts with clusters of tiny white flowers, later producing small, dark red to purplish-black cherries. Its distinctive low growth form stands out.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Rosales
- **Family:** Rosaceae
- **Genus:** Prunus

## Interesting facts

- Its scientific name, Prunus pumila, means "dwarf plum"!
- Native Americans historically used sand cherries for both food and medicine.
- Some sand cherry plants can live for more than 30 years!
- These tart cherries are perfect for making delicious pies and jams!

## Special abilities

- **Sand Surfer:** Sand cherry can thrive in sandy, dry soils that many plants avoid, helping it survive harsh conditions.
- **Ground Hugger:** Sand cherry has deep, spreading roots that help it hold sandy soil in place, preventing erosion.
- **Berry Bonanza:** Sand cherry produces many small, tart cherries that ripen quickly, providing food for wildlife.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-180 cm
- **Spread:** 60-250 cm
- **Flower Size:** 0.8-1.5 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Spring
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats the ripe cherries
- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — collects nectar from flowers
- **Eaten by:** [Coyote](https://www.snappit.app/explore/coyote) (*Canis latrans*) — eats fallen fruit for nutrition

## Traits

- [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
- [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
- [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
- [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
- [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals.
- [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
- [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
- [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Always ask an adult before picking or eating any wild fruit.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify sand cherry?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is sand cherry?

30-180 cm

### How wide does sand cherry spread?

60-250 cm

### How big are the flowers on sand cherry?

0.8-1.5 cm

### When does sand cherry bloom?

Spring

### Is sand cherry edible?

Yes

### Is sand cherry toxic?

Mild

### What is sand cherry's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Glen Haven](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-haven) — Michigan, US · Historic District
- [Lakeview Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lakeview-park) — Michigan, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Sand Cherry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/sand-cherry)