Carmine Jewel Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Carmine Jewel Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum

Prunus x kerrasis Carmine Jewel

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Carmine Jewel Cherry
Opata Cherry Plum

Carmine Jewel Cherry is a cold-hardy dwarf sour cherry. It is typically highly productive and one of the first varieties to ripen in summer. It produces deep red, tart fruit that are well-suited for fresh eating, baking, and preserves. In the spring, beautiful white flowers cover the branches, adding ornamental value.

Carmine Jewel Cherry was developed at the University of Saskatchewan. It is recommended to grow dwarf sour cherries as a shrub rather than a small tree. The shrub form tends to bear fruit earlier and is less susceptible to winterkill.

Sour cherries are self-fertile; however, planting with additional varieties for cross-pollination can increase yields.

Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.

The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.

The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.

Carmine Jewel Cherry Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 2.0 m (7 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: orange
Flowers: white
Fruit: skin green and red, flesh yellow-green
Berries: large dark purple cherries
Fruit size: 3.5g
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: tart - best for pies and jams
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: late July to early August
Harvest: mid to late August
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry