VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Prunus emarginata | Bitter Cherry 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Bitter cherry is a valuable forage species for mule deer, elk, and black
bear [19,54,99,110,111].  In the Pacific Northwest and California bitter
cherry is highly preferred winter forage for Columbian black-tailed deer
[12,21,66].  In the Southwest bitter cherry is browsed by deer and elk
[62].

Throughout its range, bitter cherry fruits are eaten by birds, rodents,
and small mammals [19,86,99,111].  In Washington bitter cherry is eaten
by slugs [15].  In the Sierra Nevada bitter cherry is utilized by
mountain beaver [7].  

Bitter cherry is highly palatable to sheep [36].  It is a preferred
sheep food in Oregon [74].  Bitter cherry is also eaten by cattle [91].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
In California crude protein content of bitter cherry browse was 13.3
percent in July and 9.7 percent in September [9].


COVER VALUE : 
Dense thickets of bitter cherry provide important cover for wildlife
[11,111].  In Idaho bitter cherry provides important escape cover and
roosting sites for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse [77,78].  


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Bitter cherry adapts well to disturbed or degraded sites
[26,28,102,120].  It is used for land reclamation and erosion control
[26,102,120].  Nursery-grown stock readily establishes on disturbed
sites and once established, bitter cherry is a good soil stabilizer
[102].

In California and Nevada bitter cherry is used for rehabilitating acid
mine spoils [26,28].  At the Leviathan Mine in California, planted
bitter cherry had a 90 percent survival rate on sites not seeded with
grasses after 1 year.  By the second year, grasses had established and
bitter cherry survival dropped to 60 percent of the original planting
[26].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Indians of British Columbia and Washington used bitter cherry
medicinally and for making tools.  Fruits were used as laxatives, and
the roots and inner bark were boiled and ingested to prevent heart
trouble.  The bark of bitter cherry peels off in long fibrous strips
which were used to make baskets and other implements [120,123].

Bitter cherry is planted as an ornamental.  Cultivated plants are
usually Prunus emarginata var. mollis [120].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Overbrowsing by deer decreases bitter cherry cover [128,129].  When used
to enhance wildlife habitat, bitter cherry benefits from protection from
foraging animals for at least 3 years after planting [28].

In the Pacific Northwest and California, brushfield communities are
sometimes eliminated for the benefit of conifer establishment.  Many
herbicide and mechanical treatments will control or kill bitter cherry
[13,63,81,94,114].

Bitter cherry should be propagated from seed for best results but will
also establish if propagated from softwood stem or root cuttings.
Bitter cherry should be planted in the fall or late winter to early
spring as bare root, balled, or burlapped specimens [120].

Numerous insect pests and diseases are associated with cherry (Prunus
spp.).  Insect pests include aphids, borers, and tent caterpillars.
Bitter cherry is susceptible to trunk and root rot fungi [120].

Related categories for Species: Prunus emarginata | Bitter Cherry