Pawnee Buttes® Western Sand Cherry

Pawnee Buttes® is a low-growing selection of western sand cherry, identified by Plant Select as Prunus pumila var. besseyi ‘P011S’; the source treats that botanical name and Prunus besseyi as synonyms. Its white, fragrant flowers appear in early spring, followed by dark cherries that attract birds. This spreading shrub grows about 15 to 18 inches high and 4 to 6 feet wide. Green leaves turn red in fall, giving the plant seasonal color beyond its spring bloom. Plant Select recommends sun or part sun, clay, loam, or sandy soil, and describes its water needs as moderate to xeric. Use Pawnee Buttes® as a broad groundcover or low shrub in a sunny, well-drained bed. Leave ample horizontal room for the branches to spread, and combine it with plants that tolerate similarly lean, dry conditions. The [Plant Select Pawnee Buttes® profile](https://plantselect.org/plant/prunus-pumila-var-besseyi-p011s/) gives the selection’s botanical name, size, flowering, light, soil, and water information. ## Maintenance After the shrub matures, selectively remove a few older branches near the base to encourage renewal. Prune lightly to maintain its natural low form, and water during establishment before reducing irrigation to suit local conditions. ## 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 Pawnee Buttes: Explicit source-body example, retaining named selection, taxonomic rank and trade-code scope. This is not an independent test or a transfer of the main profile's dimensions to the selection. 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.