Small suckering understory tree or edge-of-the-woods shrub with attractive densely clustered pea-sized berries used to make sauce, juice, pie, jam, amazing wine and Benji’s grandmother’s favorite jelly. Attracts bees, birds and butterflies. In midspring, fragrant white flowers appear on dangling racemes up to 6" long followed by crimson-to-dark-purple berries. Cook, dry or juice the astringent fruit. Taste one fresh off the bush and you’ll see how it got its name. Do not eat the poisonous seeds.

Foliage emerges green then turns a maroon-red then yellow or orange in fall. Prefers dry to medium well-drained soil, full sun to partial shade. The species will form colonies but this selection is less inclined to do so. Prune any unwanted sprouts. Susceptible to black knot. Prunus virginiana native to eastern North America. Z2. (1–3' bare-root plants)