Pin Cherry
5
3
4Will it grow where I live?
Pin Cherry is hardy to zone 2 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 2 upwards.
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Profile
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Height
- 9 m
- Spread
- 7 m
- Growth
- very fast
- Lifespan
- 40 years
- First yield
- after 2 years
- Hardiness
- zone 2–7
- Shade tolerance
- full sun
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – moist
- pH
- 4.3 – 8.6
- Synonyms
- Red Cherry, Bird Cherry
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering | ||||||||||||
| Fruit harvest |
Uses
Growing
Prunus pensylvanica grows best in full sun and well-drained sandy to loamy soils. It tolerates dry and moist conditions and prefers slightly acidic to neutral pH. Water young plants regularly until established; mature trees are drought tolerant. Propagation is mainly by seed, which requires stratification. Minimal pruning is needed; remove dead or diseased branches in late winter or early spring.
⚠️ Hazards
Toxic kernels and leaves, toxic to dogs, cats and horses As in all Prunus species, the seeds, leaves and bark contain cyanogenic glycosides that release hydrogen cyanide when chewed or crushed. A single intact stone swallowed by accident is harmless, larger quantities of chewed kernels are not, and home-made kernel extracts are best avoided. The same plant parts are considered toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The flesh of the fruit itself is harmless. The gum that exudes from wounds indicates pruning at the wrong time of year, not a hazard.
Frequently asked questions
Pin Cherry: how big does it get?
Pin Cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 9 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 7 m. Growth is very fast.
Pin Cherry: what site does it need?
Pin Cherry tolerates full sun. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – moist. The pH may lie between 4.3 and 8.6.
Pin Cherry: is it hardy?
Pin Cherry is listed as hardy in zone 2–7 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Pin Cherry: will it grow in Central Europe?
Pin Cherry is hardy to zone 2 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 2 upwards.
Pin Cherry: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers from April to June.
Pin Cherry: when is it harvested?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate the fruit ripens from July to September.
Pin Cherry: is it poisonous?
Individual parts of Pin Cherry are noted as mildly problematic — the plant does not count as poisonous. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone, only on a confident identification.
Pin Cherry: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 5/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 4/10.
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Community experience
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