🌿 Native Plant of the Week⁠ Western Sand Cherry⁠ (Prunus pumila var. besseyi, Zones 3–8)⁠ ⁠ Meet one of North America’s own flowering cherries. While most cherries have Asian roots, Prunus pumila holds it down across the Great Plains—from Manitoba to Colorado.⁠ ⁠ This rugged native grows 4–6 feet tall and wide, with fragrant white blooms in spring and glossy green leaves that shift to reddish-purple in fall. The Pawnee Buttes® selection stays a compact 1–3 feet, making it perfect as a flowering groundcover.⁠ ⁠ 🌸 Full sun = best blooms⁠ 🍒 Black fruit feeds wildlife⁠ 🍂 Fall color included⁠ ⁠ Yes, it’s lovely—but like many members of the rose family, it’s not immune to pests. Watch for cankers, borers, and root rot, and treat as needed.⁠ ⁠ Fun Fact:⁠ Western sand cherry is often used as rootstock for cherries, plums, and apricots.⁠ ⁠ —Mary⁠ ⁠ Want to support pollinators and birds? Native plants like this are the real MVPs—share with a fellow wildlife gardener.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ The American Garden...