Nanking Cherry vs Manchurian Lilac (Korean Lilac) - TreeTime.ca

Nanking Cherry vs Manchurian Lilac (Korean Lilac)

Prunus tomentosa

Syringa pubescens ssp. patula

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Nanking Cherry
Manchurian Lilac (Korean Lilac)

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.

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.

Nanking Cherry Quick Facts

Manchurian Lilac (Korean Lilac) Quick Facts

Lowest Price: $14.99 - SAVE UP TO 25%
Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 2.4 m (8 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Spread: 2.1 m (7 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: none


Fall colour: red and purple
Flowers: white, early spring
Flowers: pale purple
Fruit: scarlet sweet but slightly tart cherries, 8-12 mm diameter
Berries: scarlet sweet but slightly tart cherries, 8-12 mm diameter
Berries: red-pink berries
Harvest: mid July
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: ando cherry, chinese bush cherry, chinese dwarf cherry, downy cherry, hansens bush cherry, korean cherry, manchu cherry, mountain cherry, shanghai cherry
Other Names: korean lilac