Romeo Cherry vs Gray Dogwood - TreeTime.ca

Romeo Cherry vs Gray Dogwood

Prunus x kerrasis Romeo

Cornus racemosa

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

CUSTOM GROW

Romeo Cherry
Gray Dogwood

Romeo Cherry is a cold-hardy dwarf sour cherry. The dark red fruit are known for being sweeter than other varieties, often considered one of the sweetest dwarf sour cherries. It is typically highly productive, and the cherries are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves. In the spring, beautiful white flowers cover the branches, adding ornamental value.

Romeo 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.

Gray dogwood is a thicket-forming, deciduous shrub with greenish-white blossoms in open, terminal clusters. Young twigs are red and the fruit pedicels remain conspicuously red into late fall and early winter.

Fruit itself is a white, 1/4 in. drupe that usually does not remain on the shrub for long.

Great for naturalizing wild areas, this shrub attracts birds and other wildlife.

Romeo Cherry Quick Facts

Gray Dogwood Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal
Moisture: any
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium


Fall colour: orange
Fall colour: deep, reddish puple
Flowers: white
Berries: medium sized dark red/black cherries best for making juice or fresh eating
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: MB, ON, QC