Nanking Cherry
Plant Type: Dormant, bare-root
Zones: 4-8
Soil Type: Clay, Loamy & Sandy Soils
Site Selection: Full Sun, Partial Sun
Mature Height & Width: 6-10' Height and 10-15' Spread
Growth Rate: Moderate - 12-24" per year on average
Moisture Requirements: Average
Nanking Cherry
Prunus tomentosa
The Nanking Cherry is a beautiful rounded ornamental shrub that provides year round color. In early spring, pink buds open up into fragrant white or pale pink flowers. As the flowers fade, soft green leaves emerge. Brilliant red berries appear and ripen in early to late summer. The Nanking Cherry produces edible cherries commonly used for jams and pies. The bark on this shrub is shiny and reddish brown in color and naturally exfoliates. A vigorous shrub, the Nanking Cherry is well adapted to both cold winters and hot summers. Some self polination may occur, but planting multiple bushes will produce the largest yield. Excellent for wildlife.
This selection is also known as the Korean cherry, Manchu cherry, Downy cherry, Shanghai cherry, Ando cherry, Mountain cherry, Chinese Bush cherry, Chinese Dwarf cherry, or Hansen's Bush Cherry.
The Nanking Cherry is a rounded, upright and spreading shrub. The cherries this bush produces are edible right off the plant and are typically used in jams and pies. The bark on the Nanking Cherry is an attractive brown color. Its peeling bark gives the bush nice winter interest. This selection in drought tolerant once established.
Common uses for the Nanking Cherry include:
- Edible cherries used in pies and jams
- Great selection for your hunting property
- Many types of wildlife enjoy the cherries
- Often used as a hedge or shrub border
- Lower story of a windbreak
- Brown bark peels and provides winter interest
The Nanking Cherry is a must have for your hunting property or wildife viewing area. The bush is dense which provides nesting cover and shelter for a host of birds and small mammals. The cherries are loved by many types of wildlife including mule deer, whitetail deer, wild turkeys and hares.
