Sand Cherry are available in two varieties.
Wester Sand Cherry (Prunus Besseyi) is a shrub also known as Bessey’s Cherry. See weblink: https://unlgardens.unl.edu/prunusbesseyidocuments
It is very closely related to the Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila).
Sand Cherry is native to North America. It is widespread from eastern Canada to Saskatchewan to the west. It is in the northern USA from Maine to Montana and as far south as Kansas, Tennessee and Virginia. It is very hardy and can grow in areas with very cold and harsh winters.
As the name implies the plant prefers sandy or sandy-loam soil. I planted mine in raised beds or berms made of the heavy clay soil in my yard. The berms provide for good drainage even with the heavy soil and the plants have done just fine.
It produces small cherries that ripen to a very dark purple or almost black color. The dark color indicates high antioxidant levels. The cherries are very tart and quite astringent. Astringent is a chemical property that causes body tissue to contract. In fruit astringent qualities cause pucker! Waiting for the cherries to fully ripen and cooking the fruit reduces the astringency.
Sand Cherry seeds and plant matter such as leaves and bark are toxic. Do not consume these parts of the plants. Only the fruit, excluding the seeds are safe to consume.
Here is the Wikipedia entry on Sand Cherries. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_pumila
Nebraskaland Magazine has an interesting write up including the history of Sand Cherries. Here is the weblink: http://magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/2015/06/nebraskas-hidden-fruit-the-sand-cherry
I purchased my Western Sand Cherry (Prunus Besseyi) seedlings from Cold Stream Farm. Here is the weblink. https://www.coldstreamfarm.net/sand-cherry-prunus-beseyii.html
Sand Cherry (Prunus pumila) seedlings can also be purchased from Willis Orchard. Here is the weblink.
https://www.willisorchards.com/product/sand-cherry-tree#.XDp2DFzQjIU
