Prunus tomentosa (Nanking cherry)

Nanking cherry information:

• A member of the rose family, along with all cherries, peaches and plums
• A true cherry bush, fruits are usually bright red, but some shrubs can be pink, or white!
• Fragrant white flowers in spring, unmistakable; reddish-brown bark that is somewhat shiny
• Fruit is delicious an attractive, scarlet coloured
• Ideal for mass plantings and borders, provides windbreak and wildlife habitat
• Vigorous, adaptable, does well in cold winters and hot summers
• Tart fruits ripen in mid- to late summer and can be eaten fresh or used in pies, jams, and jellies
• Fruits stay fresh on the bush 2-3 weeks after ripening
• This shrub grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.
• Full sun is ideal for fruit production, 6 hours of light is best, will tolerate some shade
• Adaptable to various soil conditions and pH levels, but prefers well-drained soil
• Drought tolerant

Fruit and plant uses:

• Unripe fruits can be pickled
• Baked into pies, tarts, and jams
• Dried fruit or made into fruit leathers
• Juicing
• Fresh eating
• Grazing, small size makes them easy to protect from birds with netting
• Wildlife food
• Wines, cordials
• Vinegars
• Nectar plant for bees