Pin Cherry
Prunus pensylvanica
- Native to:
- Canada, Labrador, Prince Edward I., United States
Ryan Hodnett
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- Prunus pensylvanica
- USDA Symbol:
- PRPE2
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- white
Wildlife Benefits
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★★★★★ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Acronicta dactylina, Acronicta furcifera, Acronicta superans, American lappet moth (Phyllodesma americana), Apamea castanea, Argyresthia freyella, Argyrotaenia repertana, blackberry looper (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria), Brown-tail moth (Euproctis chrysorrhoea), Bucculatrix copeuta, Calleta silkmoth (Eupackardia calleta), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), clear dagger moth (Acronicta clarescens), Columbia silk moth (Hyalophora columbia), cora moth (Cerma cora), Dark-spotted Palthis (Palthis angulalis), dowdy pinion (Lithophane unimoda), Eastern Tent Caterpillar (Malacosoma americana), Epinotia rectiplicana, Eueretagrotis perattentus, Eumacaria latiferrugata, Eurois astricta, forked dagger moth (Acronicta hasta), fragile dagger moth (Acronicta fragilis), fruit-tree tortrix (Ancylis tineana), gray spring moth (Lomographa glomeraria), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Heterocampa biundata, hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci), impressed dagger moth (Acronicta impressa), Interrupted Dagger Moth (Acronicta interrupta), Io moth (Automeris io), Lacinipolia cuneata, Lacinipolia lorea, maple leaf blotch miner (Caloptilia invariabilis), Norman's dart (Xestia normanianus), Norman's Quaker (Crocigrapha normani), Orthosia praeses, Orthosia revicta, Papestra cristifera, Phyllonorycter crataegella, Promethea silkmoth (Callosamia promethea), Radcliffe's dagger moth (Acronicta radcliffei), Red-banded leafroller (Argyrotaenia velutinana), Red-bordered Emerald (Nemoria bistriaria), Saddled Prominent (Heterocampa guttivitta), Small-eyed Sphinx (Paonias myops), snowy-shouldered leafroller (Acleris nivisellana), Spotted Apatelodes (Apatelodes torrefacta), Spring cankerworm (Paleacrita vernata), Ultronia underwing (Catocala ultronia), Unmarked dagger moth (Acronicta innotata), Walnut Sphinx (Amorpha juglandis), wheatear sallow (Lithophane fagina), Wild Cherry Sphinx (Sphinx drupiferarum), yellow-striped acleris moth (Acleris flavivittana), Yellow-washed metarranthis (Metarranthis obfirmaria), Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), Henry's Elfin (Incisalia henrici), Red-spotted Purple (Basilarchia arthemis), Striped Hairstreak (Satyrium liparops)
Reported Fauna Sightings
Hummingbirds: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) Moths:blackberry looper (Chlorochlamys chloroleucaria), Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Celery Looper (Anagrapha falcifera), cora moth (Cerma cora), Desmia Westwood, Goldenrod Gall Moth (Epiblema scudderiana), gray half-spot (Nedra ramosula), Sitochroa chortalis, Virginia Tiger Moth (Spilosoma virginica)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals, butterflies
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- red, orange, yellow
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Pioneer species that rapidly colonizes burned areas from soil seed bank. Fire stimulates germination of dormant seeds.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- Common in disturbed sites and open areas
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 90–120 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require cold-moist stratification. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Seeds are cold stratified for 60 to 120 days
Establishment: P. pensylvanica is commonly found within temperate deciduous forests of North. There is a variation in the cold stratification period and germination temperature in different studies.
Source: npn.rngr.net