Pronounced (approximate): PROO-nus POO-mih-lah
White five-petaled flowers cluster along woody branches. Narrow finely toothed leaves have pale undersides.
Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila): field photograph. Tap the photo to open the gallery.
Family Rosaceae
Life cycle Perennial woody
Blooms May – June
Height 1 to 6 feet
Habitat sun; dry, sandy or rocky soil; prairie, savanna, dunes
Common names: Sand Cherry
Bloom timing varies with latitude, weather and local conditions.
Explore reported observations. Sightings are not a complete range map.
sun; dry, sandy or rocky soil; prairie, savanna, dunes. Flowering season: May – June.
Chokecherry has elongated flower racemes and broader leaves. This entry uses Sand Cherry at species level without assigning a variety.
White five-petaled flowers cluster along woody branches.
Narrow finely toothed leaves have pale undersides.
Dark cherry-like fruits develop on a low shrub. Pair close views with a photograph of the whole plant.
12 field photographs. Select a photograph to enlarge it; use Load more photos to see the rest.
Native to North America.
Reported U.S. distribution
CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, MA, ME, MI, MN, MT, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, SD, TN, UT, VA, VT, WI, WY
Includes native and introduced state records where listed; a state record does not imply occurrence in every county.
Observation maps show submitted records, not every place the plant occurs. Follow local access rules when visiting a site.
Practice recognizing Sand Cherry in the flower quiz, or compare it with other plants in the guide.
Field photographs: Where’s Wildlife.