| 
Outstanding Features:
Attractive flower display in early spring.
Description:
Height: 6-8'
Width: 6-8'
Hardiness Zone: 3a
Nanking Cherry is a large wide spreading shrub. It can be pruned as a small tree. It is grown primarily for its showy white flowers which cover the plant in early spring. The flowers are borne sessile along the stem. The 1/2" bright red fruit which ripen in early July are edible but a little tart for fresh eating. They make excellent jams and jellies. The pit is quite large in relationship to the fruit size. The fruit is relished by birds. Leaves are dark green with fuzzy undersides. The plant works well as a mass planting or informal hedge. Nanking Cherry is native to northern China and is very cold hardy.
Requirements and Culture:
Requires a good, well drained soil. Fairly drought tolerant. It does best in full sun. Needs cross pollination to produce fruit.
Limitations:
No serious pest problems, but will exhibit
symptoms of leaf spot diseases in wet seasons. Needs a well drained
soil. Very prone to rabbit browsing. Quite often a short-lived species.
Selected Cultivars:
'Leucocarpa'- has white fruit.
'Orient' - has large red-orange fruit.
Photo Credit: 1 Bailey Nurseries, Inc.; 2 MLA; 3 E. Hasselkus.
Minnesota Power | University of Minnesota | Northern
States Power Company
|
NANKING CHERRY Prunus tomentosa