Prunus emarginata

Common Names

Bitter Cherry, Oregon Cherry, Bittercherry

Summary

Bitter cherry is a native deciduous shrub or small tree of western North America, ranging from British Columbia to southern California and east to Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico, often forming dense thickets. It grows up to about 15 m tall, with glossy leaves finely serrated, white flowers in spring arranged in clusters, and bright red drupes that are bitter to humans.

It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well‑drained soils, though it tolerates a range from moist loam to dry sites and can be drought tolerant once established. It propagates by seed and underground stems that form thickets; seeds may require stratification to germinate. It provides wildlife value, with fruit eaten by birds and mammals and flowers attracting butterflies and bees, and is used for erosion control, bank stabilization, hedgerows, habitat restoration, and naturalistic plantings. Seeds contain hydrogen cyanide and should not be eaten.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

39-591 inches

Spread

6-30 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4a-9b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun; tolerates partial shade.

Soil Type

Moist loam or sandy loam soils with good drainage.

Soil Drainage

Well-drained soils (moist loam or sandy loam with good drainage)

Soil pH

Mildly acidic to mildly alkaline soils

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (April–June)

Foliage Color

Dark green on the upper surface with paler green below.

Fall Foliage Color

Yellow

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Fast

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds