Bitter Cherry | Prunus emarginata - Benton Soil And Water Conservation District

Bitter Cherry | Prunus emarginata

May contain: plant, pollen, flower, petal, and leaf

Photo Credit: Prunus_emarginata_emarginata-5-25-04

May contain: plant, vegetation, leaf, flower, bud, and sprout

May contain: plant, tree, and tree trunk

Attractive bark, red berries that are inedible to humans but eaten by birds, especially cedar waxwings. Larval host for various butterflies. Fragrant blooms April to June, cherries ripen July- to September. Often found in disturbed areas of open woods. Bitter cherry forms thickets.

Plant Details

Habitats	Riparian Forests, Mixed Hardwood-Conifer Forest or Woodland
Habitat Notes	great for stream bank stabilization
Mature Height	7-25 ft tall
Shade Preference	Full sun, part shade
Soil Tolerance	moist, loam or sandy loam with good drainage. Also grows on dry, exposed sites
Special Uses	woodland garden ornamental, attracts birds

May contain: animal, bee, honey bee, insect, invertebrate, and wasp

Native Plant Database

We have a large searchable database of plants that are native to the Willamette Valley and other parts of Benton County. View images and filter the list by plant characteristics

May contain: bud, flower, plant, sprout, vegetation, petal, and leaf

Why Plant Native Plants?

There are so many good reasons to plant native plants!

May contain: plant, potted plant, garden, nature, outdoors, soil, jar, planter, pottery, vase, herbal, herbs, clothing, coat, cap, hat, face, head, person, photography, portrait, gardening, jacket, glove, wood, accessories, glasses, adult, female, woman, indoors, interior design, footwear, shoe, bag, and handbag

Native Plant Sales

A lush green riparian forest with tall red alder trees and a rocky stream running through it.

Riparian Forests

Riparian areas are defined by NRCS as ecosystems that occur along waterways and water bodies. They serve as the transition between aquatic and terrestrial zones.

A dense forest with tall trees and lush green undergrowth.

Mixed Hardwood-Conifer Forest or Woodland

Mixed hardwoods and conifers characterize this habitat which is widespread in western Oregon in the medium elevations of the hills of the Coast Range. Precipitation is higher in this habitat than in…

Website Accessibility Statement