Prunus pensylvanica, or pin cherry, serves as a valuable "nurse" tree in woodlands, providing cover and shade for larger hardwood seedlings. The native range extends across much of North America, encompassing eastern Canada from Newfoundland and southern Labrador to British Columbia, and the southern Northwest Territories, as well as the Great Lakes region, New England, and parts of the Appalachian Mountains. It thrives in fertile, moist, well-drained soil but can also grow in sandy or light clay soil. Fast-growing and one of the first to emerge after a fire, it's beneficial for erosion control in disturbed areas. However, its bark, flowers, leaves, and stems are highly poisonous to humans and livestock due to hydrocyanic acid. It is short-lived, often surviving until it reaches about 10cm in diameter in urban areas.