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Pin Cherry

$29.99
Title

A vibrant addition to any landscape, the Pin Cherry is a slender, elegant tree that bursts into a cloud of fragrant, snowy-white blossoms every spring. Its bark is a work of art—lustrous, reddish-brown with prominent golden-orange markings called lenticels that glint in the sunlight. As summer unfolds, it drips with clusters of brilliant, jewel-like scarlet berries that contrast beautifully against its shiny, yellowish-green foliage. In the autumn, the leaves put on a final, fiery show, turning spectacular shades of bright red and orange
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Plant Details

Difficulty:

Easy to Medium

Zone:

2-8

Watering:

High

Years To Bear:

2–5

Plant Type:

Fruit Tree

Light:

Full Sun

Plant Profile

Common Names:

Pin Cherry, Fire Cherry, Bird Cherry, Wild Red Cherry, Pigeon Cherry

Scientific Name:

Prunus pensylvanica

Growth Details:

  • Mature Size: 15–30 feet tall (can occasionally reach 50 feet) with a spread of 18–25 feet.
  • Growth Habit: Upright and narrow with a rounded, open crown.
  • Form: Small tree or large multi-stemmed shrub.
  • Growth Rate: Fast.
  • Longevity: Short-lived, typically 20–40 years.

Features:

Native species, extremely cold-hardy, attracts songbirds and pollinators, edible fruit (used for jellies and syrups), fiery fall colour.

Environmental Needs:

  • Exposure: Full Sun.
  • Soil Preferences: Prefers sandy, acidic, and well-drained loamy soils.
  • Soil Tolerance: Adaptable to various soil types but intolerant of poorly drained or flooded sites.
  • Watering: Regular; ensure the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged.

Plant Care

Care:

  • Light Requirements: Needs full sun (at least 6–8 hours daily) to produce the most flowers and fruit.
  • Moisture Requirements: Prefers moist, well-drained soil; however, it is highly drought-sensitive and requires regular deep watering during dry spells.
  • Maintenance: Control suckers to prevent the tree from becoming a thicket-like shrub. Prune in late winter or early spring before buds break to avoid sap bleeding.
  • Fertilization: Generally requires little fertilizer once established; an all-purpose organic fertilizer can be applied in early spring if growth appears sluggish.

Tips For Success:

  • Mulching: Apply a thick layer of mulch to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.
  • Bird Protection: If you want the harvest for yourself, use netting, as birds will quickly strip the tree.
  • Disease Management: Watch for Black Knot fungus (black warty galls on branches) and prune out infected wood immediately.

Planting Considerations:

  • Best Time To Plant: Early spring or late fall.
  • Spacing: 15–20 feet apart if planting multiple trees.
  • Location Tips: Excellent as a "pioneer" species to stabilize soil or for naturalized wildlife areas. Avoid planting near walkways where fallen fruit might be messy.

Fruit Profile

Size:

Small, about 1/4 inch (5–7 mm) in diameter

Colour:

Brilliant scarlet red.

Texture:

Thin, juicy flesh surrounding a relatively large stone.

Flavour:

Sharply tart and sour when raw; excellent for cooking.

Harvest Time:

Late summer (August).

Pollination Requirements:

Self-pollinating, though planting near other Pin Cherries will increase fruit yield.