Manchurian Apricot vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Manchurian Apricot vs Opata Cherry Plum

Prunus armeniaca var. mandshurica

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

COMING SOON

(new stock expected: fall of 2025)

Manchurian Apricot
Opata Cherry Plum

Manchurian Apricot is a winter-hardy relative of the native plum. This tree can stand some drought, but will not handle standing water or saturated moist soils. It can be used in shelterbelts, hedges, or as an ornamental. Manchurian Apricot will also attract songbirds, rabbits, and other rodents if left uncontrolled.

This tree will produce fruit once it reaches maturity at between two and five years old. Other famous cultivars of Manchurian Apricot include Scout Apricot, Moongold, and many more.

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.

Manchurian Apricot Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 5 m (15 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 5 m (18 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: medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium


Fall colour: orange to yellow
Bark: red to cinnamon brown
Flowers: white to light pink
Fruit: small apricot
Fruit: skin green and red, flesh yellow-green
Fruit size: 40g
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Firmness: firm
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry