Western Sand Cherry

Western sand cherry (Prunus besseyi) is a low, spreading deciduous shrub with gray-green leaves and small white flowers. Its sweet, purplish-black fruits ripen in summer, and the branches can spread by suckering. University of Illinois Extension lists plants about 4 to 6 feet tall and wide, with late-spring flowers, full-sun exposure, and moist, well-drained soil. Oregon State University describes the species as a suckering shrub that tolerates cold, heat, wind, and drought; it also records the taxonomic synonym Prunus pumila var. besseyi. Use it in a sunny shrub border or mass planting where its broad shape can spread without crowding paths. The fruit is edible and can be used in preserves, and birds also use the dark berries. The foliage may turn reddish in autumn. Read the [University of Illinois Extension profile](https://web.extension.illinois.edu/hortanswers/plantdetail.cfm?PlantID=362&PlantTypeID=8) and [Oregon State University’s landscape plant profile](https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/prunus-besseyi) for size, culture, and botanical notes. ## Maintenance Water during establishment and in prolonged dry weather. Allow room for suckering, remove unwanted shoots when needed, and renew older branches gradually to keep the shrub open. ## Utah — complete source care conditions (2026 audit) The [USU 2018 guide](https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/files/resources/firewise-landscaping-updated-2018.pdf), printed page 26, lists Prunus besseyi (P. pumila var. besseyi) (Native) as Western Sandcherry. Plant individuals or small clumps separately, remove dead growth and avoid ladder fuels beneath trees, decks or beside buildings. Near trees and buildings use widely separated, low-growing, non-resinous varieties. The separate [USU Firewise fact sheet](https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/publications/utah-forest-facts/002-firewise-plants-for-utah-landscapes) lists Prunus besseyi (P. pumila var. besseyi) as Western Sandcherry. Its row conditions are: Small, spreading shrub for dry, tough sites. The two source associations remain separate. Maintain moisture, suitable spacing and removal of dead material, check local plant suitability and follow current local fire guidance; no plant is fireproof. ## South Dakota — Black Hills source scope and care [South Dakota's Living With Fire guide](https://danr.sd.gov/Conservation/Forestry/docs/Living-With-Fire.pdf), printed page 15, lists “Prunus besseyi” (“Western sand cherry”) under Shrubs. Exact source species represented by the unselected catalog profile. The guide states that no plant is non-burning and landscape maintenance is more important than selection alone. Choose plants for site slope, aspect, hardiness and precipitation; the list is regional, not a universal fire-resistance score. Its landscape guidance on page 14 calls for keeping plants green throughout the fire season in the 30 feet closest to structures, minimizing highly flammable fuels there and using well-irrigated perennials or suitable low-growing/non-woody deciduous plants. Keep tree limbs at least 15 feet from chimneys, power lines and structures, account for mature size and maintain open spaces between plants and plant groups. Irrigation availability affects selection and placement; manage dry and dead plant material. Keep this source association separate from Idaho numerical scores, other regional plant ratings and their conditions. ## Inland West — source row reconciliation PDF page 19 (printed 17), Shrubs: “Prunus besseyi” / “western sand cherry”. Exact source species or reconciled historical spelling/synonym; unselected record used. ## Inland West — 2005 source scope and care The [University of Idaho Station Bulletin 67, January 2005](https://www.uwyo.edu/barnbackyard/_files/documents/resources/mullenfire/protectinghomeswildfire.pdf) includes this taxon in its plant suggestions. The publication says the list is not exhaustive and no plant is fireproof; pruning, watering, plant condition and landscape arrangement matter more than selection alone. Choose for slope, aspect, hardiness and rainfall, and keep this association separate from numerical Idaho BLM scores and other regional ratings. Its landscape guidance describes a treated landscape extending at least 100 feet from the home, with greater distances on steep or windy sites. Separate tree crowns by 10–15 feet; keep foundation plantings low, well watered and free of dead material, eliminate ladder fuels and use separated planting groups with nonflammable breaks. Maintain irrigation, trim turf and remove dry debris. The same species can behave differently with water stress or accumulated dead growth; verify current local guidance and suitability. ## Pacific Northwest — PNW 590 (2023): Western sandcherry The [shrubs-17 profile](https://extension.oregonstate.edu/gallery/fire-resistant-plant-profiles-shrubs) prints Prunus besseyi. Prunus besseyi: Exact primary species/hybrid/cultivar identity; hidden or narrower varieties are not substituted. Source care: Low water use; Full sun to partial shade. The source prefers supplemental moisture but warns of suckering with excess water. Pawnee Buttes/P011S is the separately named low selection, about 12–18 inches tall in the source, not the generic species dimensions. Profile reference data: Height: 4–6 feet; Spread: 4–6 feet; USDA hardiness zones: 3–7; Flowers: white; Bloom time: April–May. These are profile-level source values, not independent measurements of each named example or edits to this record's scalar fields. Native-form availability, wildlife use and general deer-resistance statements are not automatic attributes of every selection. The [2023 guide](https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-590-fire-resistant-plants-home-landscapes) requires maintained, healthy, adequately watered plants and removal of dead/spent material. Keep the first 5 feet from the home free of plants. In the 5–30-foot zone separate planting groups by at least 10 feet, farther on slopes; avoid continuous rows and ladder fuels and keep tree branches at least 15 feet from the home. This is a regional source association, not a numerical flammability score or a claim of fireproofness. Older PNW editions and other regional ratings remain separate.