Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Mountain time
Nanking Cherry vs Manchurian Lilac (Korean Lilac)
Prunus tomentosa
Syringa pubescens ssp. patula
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
Nanking Cherry is a small deciduous shrub known for its attractive white blossoms and edible fruit. Its dark red berries are excellent for pies, jellies, and even fresh eating.
Nanking Cherry is highly regarded as a shade tolerant fruit. We often see it planted as a hedge on the north side of a house where few other plants will survive, let alone thrive.
Expect fruit mid to late July. The fruit can vary in sweetness and size considerably. We often hear that people prefer it to sour cherries. Perhaps this is because Nanking Cherry is more closely related to plums. In fact, it is sometimes used as a dwarfing rootstock for plums.
Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Nanking Cherry seeds at SeedTime.ca.
Manchurian Lilac (aka Korean Lilac) is a medium-sized shrub that features fragrant clusters of pale purple flowers in late spring.
Manchurian Lilac is less affected by disease than other lilacs and will create a beautiful border, hedge, or privacy screen. If you are looking for a lilac for your shelterbelt, consider Common Purple Lilac or Villosa Lilac first.