Pennsylvania Cinquefoil vs Opata Cherry Plum - TreeTime.ca

Pennsylvania Cinquefoil vs Opata Cherry Plum

Potentilla pensylvanica

Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata

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Pennsylvania Cinquefoil
Opata Cherry Plum

Pennsylvania Cinquefoil is well suited for naturalisation projects as it is a wildflower native to North America. It is widespread and can be found growing in rocky soils at higher elevations in the mountains and foothills, as well as the dry prairies. The Pennsylvania Cinquefoil is capable of growing in cold, harsh conditions. The bright yellow flowers are found at the top of long stalks in small dense clusters and are ideal for attracting pollinators.

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.

Pennsylvania Cinquefoil Quick Facts

Opata Cherry Plum Quick Facts

Zone: 1a
Zone: 2a
Height: 0.2 m (0.5 ft)
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Spread: 0.0 m (0.1 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: medium
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: medium
Suckering: medium
Maintenance: medium


Flowers: yellow
Fruit: skin green and red, flesh yellow-green
Fruit size: 3 cm in diameter
Flavor: pleasant and sweet, hint of acidity
Harvest: mid to late August
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: prairie cinquefoil
Other Names: opata chum, opata plum cherry