Sand Cherry Shrubs & Birds

Sand Cherry (Prunus besseyi)

• In the late spring, the stems of the sand cherry bloom with small white flowers, but as summer advances, these flowers develop into small, sweet purple-black cherries that can be used for jams and jellies. The shrub will propagate itself by putting up suckers, which are shoots that sprout from the root system, close to the parent plant. If left to grow, the suckers and the parent plant will form a small thicket about 4 to 6 feet wide.

Planting

• Sand cherry grows well in the hot, dry summers typical to the plains and the high-altitude regions of the west. It thrives in full sun in well-drained, sandy soil and is a suitable choice for water-conscious gardeners who practice xeriscaping, according to horticulturist Sherry Fuller. Xeriscaping is a landscaping practice (popular in drought-prone areas) that encourages the use of native plants to reduce water use.

Birds

• Colorado State University lists the sand cherry, or Bessey cherry, as the “preferred fruit for numerous songbirds” and a good nesting cover for them. It also provides cover for roosting and loafing songbirds and game birds (birds engaging in immobile pursuits). Berry-eating songbirds such as chickadees, bluebirds, robins, waxwings and mockingbirds will be attracted to the sand cherries.

Migrant Songbirds and Shrubs

• The habitats of migrant songbirds have been under threat as urban development reduces the amount of feeding, drinking and resting sites along birds' routes. The Audubon Society reports that migrant songbirds are more particular about the structure of vegetation, rather than the type, and that a landscape with the right vertical layers will attract and benefit a lot of birds. Suburban landscapes favor much taller shade trees than shrubs and understory trees. Birds are attracted to multi-story flora for shelter and forage, and the sand cherry shrub provides food and shelter while filling in gaps in a wildlife landscape.

Native Shrubs

• The Audubon Society favors native, fruit-bearing shrubs because they have evolved with the birds and animals in their native habitat. This means that sand cherry shrubs are programmed to produce fruit just when the birds need it.