How much sun does Bitter cherry need?

Bitter cherry grows best in full sun conditions.

When does Bitter cherry bloom?

Bitter cherry blooms in April and May.

Where is Bitter cherry native?

Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) is native to AZ, CA, ID, MT and 5 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.

Is Bitter cherry toxic to dogs?

Yes. Bitter cherry is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Is Bitter cherry toxic to cats?

Yes. Bitter cherry is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

What butterflies or moths does Bitter cherry host?

Bitter cherry is a larval host plant for pale swallowtail and Lorquin's admiral.

Bitter cherry

Name: Pollinator Patch
Author: Pollinator Patch

Prunus emarginata

Last reviewed: September 2026

Bitter cherry is toxic to dogs and cats.

Listed as toxic by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) (last reviewed 2026-08-15). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435and your veterinarian's emergency line.

Pollinator Patch flags toxic plants so you can choose a pet-safe native alternative for your yard.

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

240"–480" H × 180"–300" W

Bloom

Apr, May

Native to

AZ, CA, ID, MT and 5 more states

Pollinators

bees

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Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 452 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Coast Range Puget Lowland Marine West Coast Forest Northwestern Forested Mountains Sierra Nevada Central California Foothills and Coastal Mountains Southern California Mountains North American Deserts Central Basin and Range Mojave Basin and Range Arizona/New Mexico Mountains Chihuahuan Deserts

Small deciduous tree or large shrub with reddish bark and clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by small, bitter red to black cherries. Found along streambanks and forest edges.

Wildlife value

Host plant for pale swallowtail, Lorquin's admiral.

Flowers attract native bees; foliage is a larval host for pale swallowtail and Lorquin's admiral butterflies, and the small fruits feed birds.

Common questions

How much sun does Bitter cherry need?: Bitter cherry grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Bitter cherry bloom?: Bitter cherry blooms in April and May.
Where is Bitter cherry native?: Bitter cherry (Prunus emarginata) is native to AZ, CA, ID, MT and 5 more states, per vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists.
Is Bitter cherry toxic to dogs?: Yes. Bitter cherry is listed as toxic to dogs by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your pet has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Is Bitter cherry toxic to cats?: Yes. Bitter cherry is listed as toxic to cats by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (aspca.org). If your cat has been exposed, call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
What butterflies or moths does Bitter cherry host?: Bitter cherry is a larval host plant for pale swallowtail and Lorquin's admiral.

Native range data from vouchered herbarium specimen records and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

If something looks wrong

Common plant problems, and what to check first

These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.

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