Prunus virginiana
Botanical Name
Prunus virginiana
Hardiness
Zones 2 to 7
Height
Up to 30 feet
Width
18 to 25 feet
Flowers
2-to-5-inch-long clusters of white fragrant blooms in April or May
Fruit
Red turning dark purple in late winter.
Fall Color
Yellow
Light
Full sun (best flowers) to light shade
Soil
Moist to well-drained
Planting and Care
For a quicker establishment start with a balled and burlapped tree. Prune out suckers as they appear.
Problems
Subject to many insect and disease problems including borers, tent caterpillars, Japanese beetles, aphids, leaf spot, black knot, leaf curl, root rot, fireblight, and shot hole fungus
Varieties to Consider
'Goertz', which features palatable, not sour, fruit. 'Schubert's' (Canada Red) leaves open green and turn purple for the remainder of the season. I find it has fewer pests and can be longer lived in the landscape.
Did you know?
The fruit has been used for jams and jellies. This plant is a host for tiger swallowtail butterflies.