Prunus x cistena — Edible Plant Database

What to Eat

Edible parts: Fruit, Seeds

The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and contains a single large seed. The seed can also be eaten raw or cooked, but avoid it if it tastes too bitter.

Known Hazards

Where to Find It

It is a temperate plant.

How to Identify

A slow-growing deciduous shrub reaching 2 m by 2 m, hardy to UK zone 4. Flowers May to June; hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, mildly acidic to basic pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun, preferring moist conditions.

How to Grow

Propagation: Seed requires 2–3 months of cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe. Stored seed should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible, with protection from mice. Germination can be slow, sometimes taking up to 18 months. Prick seedlings out into individual pots when large enough to handle, overwinter in a greenhouse or cold frame, and plant out in late spring or early summer the following year. As a hybrid, this species will not come true from seed. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel can be taken in July/August in a frame. Softwood cuttings from vigorous plants can be taken in spring to early summer in a frame. Layering can be done in spring.

Medicinal Uses

No specific medicinal uses have been recorded for this species, but like all members of the genus it contains amygdalin and prunasin, compounds that break down in water to release hydrocyanic acid (prussic acid). In small amounts this highly toxic compound can stimulate respiration, aid digestion and produce a sense of well-being.

Other Uses

A green dye can be obtained from the leaves. A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit. The plants can also be used for hedging.

Wikipedia

Source ↗

A slow-growing deciduous shrub reaching 2 m by 2 m, hardy to UK zone 4. Flowers May to June; hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage, mildly acidic to basic pH. Grows in semi-shade or full sun, preferring moist conditions.