Nanking Cherry vs Sour Cherry

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.

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.

Compare Nanking Cherry with

Compare Sour Cherry with