Prunus americana

Habitat: rocky or sandy soils along streams, woodlands, pastures, fencerows. Disturbed forests, old fields, shrubby clearings, and fencerows. Infrequent but widespread throughout

Wildlife value: Its thickets provide good cover for songbirds and small mammals year-round.  This plant provides nectar for pollinators and is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. The fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, white-tailed deer, and small mammals. Deer also eat the twigs and leaves

Notes: As a tree, it typically grows to 10-20' tall with a broad, spreading crown. As a shrub, it suckers freely and can form large colonies. Remove suckers to prevent unwanted spread or to train into a small tree. It can form thickets with its thorn-like side branches so keep it will have to be maintained unless that is the desired result.

Poisonous to Humans
Poison Severity: Medium
Poison Symptoms: The pits contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If a couple of pits are accidentally swallowed, it will not cause poisoning. The pits are more poisonous if they are ground up/crushed or the seeds are chewed. Fruit that has not been pitted should not be blended into a smoothie. Symptoms include Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure.