Prunus pumila
| Prunus pumila | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 2 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Blooms: | Late Spring |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Prunus pumila (common name: dwarf american cherry)
Propagation: Seed - requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[1]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[1]. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate[2]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame[3][1].
Softwood cuttings from strongly growing plants in spring to early summer in a frame[1].
Layering in spring.
Cultivation: Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil[4][3]. Thrives in a loamy soil, doing well on limestone[3]. Prefers some chalk in the soil but apt to become chlorotic if too much is present[4]. Requires a sunny position[3]. Established plants are very drought resistant[5].
This species is hardy to about -35°c when the plants are fully dormant[5], though the young growth in spring is fairly tender[K].
Plants are susceptible to mildew in low areas[5].
Plants thrive in areas with a short growing season[5]. The fruits are highly resistant to all fruit worms[5].
Plants can produce fruit in 3 years from seed[5].
A single plant, growing at Hilliers Arboretum in 1999, produced a good crop of fruit with viable seed, so the species is almost certainly self-fertile[K].
Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged[6].
Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[1].
Range: Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Manitoba, Maine, New Jersey, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Habitat: Dunes and sand, or on calcareous rocky shores[7].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[8][9][10]. A reasonable size, up to 10mm in diameter with one large seed[1], this is the largest of the N. American cherries[11]. A rich and pleasantly acid taste when fully ripe though they are sometimes slightly bitter[8][3][12][13]. Eaten out of hand, used in preserves or dried for later use[13].
Seed - raw or cooked. Do not eat the seed if it is too bitter - see the notes above on toxicity.
Medicinal: Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, all members of the genus contain amygdalin and prunasin, substances which break down in water to form hydrocyanic acid (cyanide or prussic acid). In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being[6].
Usage: A green dye can be obtained from the leaves[14].
A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit[14].
Used as a rootstock for the sour cherry[5].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates strong winds
Seed Ripens: Late Summer
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: Although no specific mention has been seen for this species, it belongs to a genus where most, if not all members of the genus produce hydrogen cyanide, a poison that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. This toxin is found mainly in the leaves and
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Natural Food Institute. Wonder Crops 1987.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ Lyndon, Merritt. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co, 1950.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ McPherson, Alan and Sue McPherson. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press, 1977.
- ↑ Yanovsky, Elias. Food Plants of the North American Indians Publication 237. US Department of Agriculture.
- ↑ Weiner, Michael. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books, 1980.
- ↑ Turner, Nancy. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences, 1978.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Grae, Ida. Nature's Colors. MacMillan Publishing, 1974.