Nanking Cherry
The hardiest cherry of all cultivated varieties, withstanding –40°C without damage
The Nanking Cherry is one of the most overlooked treasures of East Asian flora, gradually winning the hearts of European gardeners. This modest fruiting shrub originates from China and Japan, where it has been cultivated for thousands of years. In our region, it remains an exotic rarity, though it fully deserves much wider distribution, particularly in Ukrainian gardens where its cold hardiness makes it an invaluable discovery.
The Nanking Cherry impresses with its delicate charm: a bush reaching up to three metres is clothed in April and May with a fine foam of white and pale pink blossoms that unfold before the leaves appear. After flowering, the branches bear small but flavourful berries—bright red, rounded, the size of a pea. Unlike its larger cousins, this cherry yields fruit reliably every year without fail, making it a dependable garden companion. Some cultivars are propagated by European nurseries, yet even the wild form demonstrates impressive productivity.
In gardens, the Nanking Cherry serves both functional and ornamental purposes. It requires no special care—thriving even without supplemental feeding, tolerating harsh conditions and wild temperature swings. Planted in a sunny spot beside a fence or at the garden's edge, it yields fresh berries for preserving and compotes whilst serving as a living screen. The shrub combines beautifully with sour cherry, hawthorn and chokeberry, enriching the garden's fruiting palette.
Here is why you should try this plant: it is the hardiest among all cultivated cherries and unflinchingly endures forty-degree frosts. If you seek a modest, undemanding species that will not burden you with disease and pests, yet will bestow upon you spring beauty and summer harvest—the Nanking Cherry is precisely what you need.
Nanking Cherry — planting & location
Abundant flowering before leaf emergence; small red berries
How to water Nanking Cherry
Moderate watering
Fertilizing and pruning: Nanking Cherry
Remove old branches and suckers