Sour Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Sour Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum

Prunus cerasus

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

(new stock expected: fall of 2026)

Sour Cherry
Opata Cherry Plum

Sour Cherry is a self-fertile and cold hardy cherry tree. Not to be confused with sweet cherries, sour cherries are the only cherries that are successfully grown in prairie climates.

Sour Cherry is ideal for cooking, preserves, or for making juices and jams, while sweet cherries are preferred for fresh eating. While we can't confirm claims of sour cherries medical benefits, studies have shown that sour cherries contain anti-inflammatory properties and can help regulate sleep patterns.

Sour Cherry flowers emerge in April-May with fruit ripening in June-July. This variety prefers well-drained soil and does not like any standing water. If you're looking to create an inexpensive edible hedge, consider Sour Cherry.

This Sour Cherry is produced from seed and is not a clonally reproduced selection like the Evans, Rose, or Montmorency.

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.

Sour Cherry Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 5 m (16 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium




Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry