Flower profile
Fire cherry
Prunus pensylvanica
Fire cherry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. In Maine it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Maine
Quick look
Prunus pensylvanica, also known as bird cherry, fire cherry, pin cherry, and red cherry, is a North American cherry species in the genus Prunus. The fruit is edible and can be used in canning.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 28 states. USDA PLANTS
- NatureServe lists it as native to Maine. NatureServe
- In Maine, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 30 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 693 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #102 among the 110 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
Fire cherry gift ideas
Handmade fire cherry gifts from independent makers.
🌱 Sample spot. Handmade gift picks from independent shops will appear here once our shop partnership is approved. These cards are placeholders, not real products.
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Fire cherry art print
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Fire cherry greeting card
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Fire cherry mug
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Fire cherry earrings
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Fire cherry embroidery pattern
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Fire cherry sticker
When does it bloom?
In Maine, most flowering sightings come in May–June.
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- Maine
- Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S2), WY (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: medium). Poisonous parts: bark, flowers, leaves, stems. Symptoms they list: “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…” They also note: “Fruits can be used for jelly or syrup. Sour off the tree.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Cherry” (Prunus spp), which covers the whole genus, lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records fire cherry in 28 states.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, York.
More Maine flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PRPE2.
- iNaturalist, Prunus pensylvanica: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Prunus pensylvanica (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
- Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Prunus pensylvanica (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: Dawn Nelson via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.