Nanking Cherry
Prunus tomentosa
Also listed as Cerasus tomentosa, Amygdalus tomentosa
Also known as Chinese Bush Cherry, Manchu Cherry, Downy Cherry
Climate Match for your location
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A hardy deciduous shrub producing abundant small white flowers in spring, followed by tart red edible cherries that ripen in early summer. Valued for cold hardiness and prolific fruit production in permaculture and ornamental settings.
Why grow it
Nanking cherry tolerates USDA zones 2-8 and produces fruit where many sweet cherry cultivars cannot establish, making it useful for cold-climate permaculture systems. The fruit is smaller and more tart than commercial cherries but ripens consistently and abundantly, suiting fresh eating, preserves, and wildlife forage. As a multi-stemmed shrub rather than a tree form, it fits edge plantings and polycultures more flexibly than standard orchard cherries.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over a concentrated window of 1-2 weeks, requiring timely harvest to prevent bird predation and dropping; staggered plantings or companion timing with other crops may help spread processing labor. Pruning for shape and productivity benefits from annual attention, as the species tends toward dense, crossing growth that can reduce air circulation and fruit access.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Northern China, Mongolia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A hardy deciduous shrub producing abundant small white flowers in spring, followed by tart red edible cherries that ripen in early summer. Valued for cold hardiness and prolific fruit production in permaculture and ornamental settings.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Nanking Cherry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Nanking cherry tolerates USDA zones 2-8 and produces fruit where many sweet cherry cultivars cannot establish, making it useful for cold-climate permaculture systems. The fruit is smaller and more tart than commercial cherries but ripens consistently and abundantly, suiting fresh eating, preserves, and wildlife forage. As a multi-stemmed shrub rather than a tree form, it fits edge plantings and polycultures more flexibly than standard orchard cherries.
Watch out for
Fruit ripens over a concentrated window of 1-2 weeks, requiring timely harvest to prevent bird predation and dropping; staggered plantings or companion timing with other crops may help spread processing labor. Pruning for shape and productivity benefits from annual attention, as the species tends toward dense, crossing growth that can reduce air circulation and fruit access.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Northern China, Mongolia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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