Afghan Cherry Prunus jacquemontii
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus jak-MON-tee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Afghan Cherry is a dwarf shrub in the rose family native to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Tibet. Plant in the full sun and it tolerates a wide range of soil types. In the spring showy fragrant shell pink flowers with red centers appear which are followed by tart red cherries. Prune it in late winter when there is no threat of frost. Mass plant it and use it as a hedge or screen. It tolerates urban conditions well.
Insects, Diseses, and Other Plant Problems: Dropped fruits can be messy. It does not tolerate standing water.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- jacquemontii
- Family:
- Roseaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Afghanistant, India, Pakistan and Tibet.
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Fruits attract birds.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Spreading
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Description:
- Plum purple drupes in mid-summer
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Flowers:
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Description:
- Shell pink 5 petaled flowers with red centers appear in early spring before leaves. It is self-pollinating so does not need another cherry tree to produce fruit.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Outstanding yellow fall color.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Hedge
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Urban Conditions
- Problems:
- Messy
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
