Maritime Arboretum Seed Pin Cherry

Prunus pensylvanica

Pin Cherry is a fast-growing, short-lived native North American tree known for its delicate white spring flowers and small, bright red cherries that are an important food source for birds and wildlife. It is especially well suited to naturalized areas and disturbed sites.

Approximate Maximum Height: 10 m
Zone(s): Zone 1a-7b
About the Seeds: Clean Seed

Lighting: Full sun to partial shade. Pin Cherry performs best in open areas with plenty of sunlight. Seedling growth and survival generally improve as available light increases, while heavy shade can result in high seedling mortality.

Germination: Pin Cherry seeds have deep dormancy and require special treatment for reliable germination. For nursery sowing, stratify seeds in moist sand for approximately 60 days at alternating temperatures of 20-30°C (68–86°F), followed by approximately 90 days at 3-5°C (37-41°F). Germination is often improved by a 24-hour soak before stratification.

Watering: Keep the seed-starting medium consistently moist but not waterlogged during stratification and germination. Once seedlings emerge, maintain even moisture and do not allow young plants to dry out, particularly during their first growing season.

Photo Courtesy of Maritime Arboretum Ltd.