Nanking Cherry vs Manchurian Apricot - TreeTime.ca

Nanking Cherry vs Manchurian Apricot

Prunus armeniaca var. mandshurica

Prunus tomentosa

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON

Manchurian Apricot
Nanking Cherry

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.

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 Apricot Quick Facts

Nanking Cherry 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)
Moisture: normal
Moisture: normal
Light: full sun
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: orange to yellow
Berries: scarlet sweet but slightly tart cherries, 8-12 mm diameter
Fruit size: 40g
Firmness: firm
Flowers: white to light pink
Flowers: white, early spring
Bark: red to cinnamon brown
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: medium
Life span: medium
Life span: short
Maintenance: medium
Suckering: medium
Suckering: low




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