Botanical Name: Prunus besseyi 'Pawnee Buttes'
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Common Name: Pawnee Buttes Sand Cherry  
Plant photo of: Prunus besseyi 'Pawnee Buttes'
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Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Shrub, Ground cover

 

Height Range

1-3'

 

Flower Color

White

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Grey Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Red

 

Fruit Color

Black, Red

 

Fruit Season

Summer, Fall

Sun

Full

 

Water

Very Low, Low

 

Growth Rate

Moderate

 

Soil Type

Sandy, Loam

 

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

 

Soil pH

Neutral, Basic

 

Adverse Factors

n/a

Design Styles

Mediterranean, Ranch

 

Accenting Features

Fall Color, Fragrance, Showy Flowers

 

Seasonal Interest

Winter

 

Location Uses

Background, Shrub Border, Foundation, Patio, Raised Planter, With Rocks

 

Special Uses

Small Spaces

 

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer:

  • Description

  • Notes

This selection of sand cherry was discovered in northeastern Colorado, in the Pawnee Buttes. Same fragrant, late spring flowers followed by tasty, edible fruits, and grey-green foliage turns mahogany in the fall. All that charm from a plant that grows only about 12 to 18 inches tall but 3 to 4 feet wide. A productive, attractive groundcover.
Grow in full sun and well drained soil. Adaptive to soil type and pH. It can be trimmed to a smaller size though it flowers and bears best when allowed to grow to its full size. Space plants 3 to 4 feet apart at planting. It is self-fruitful, though fruit production will be best if you have at least two plants. Hardy to -30F. Tolerates hot and dry conditions. Grows rapidly with modest supplemental irrigation and thrives in lean well-drained non-clay soils. If your plants get powdery mildew, they are too wet.