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Pale Jules Nanking cherries clustered on the branch

Jules Nanking Cherry (Bundle of 2) | Spring 2027

$54.99
Size

Reliable shipping

Flexible returns

Pollination Needs a partner
Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)
Ripening

Will it finish before your first hard freeze?

Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)
Disease resistanceNot tested yet
  • Black knot : Unknown, no published data yet
  • Brown rot : Unknown, no published data yet

Scored 1 to 5. Higher resists better, and ? means no published data yet.

See it on our cherry disease chart (opens in a new tab)

At a glance: Jules Nanking Cherry is a cherry tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and self-incompatible, so plant two genetically different plants.

Also called Manchu cherry, Chinese bush cherry, mountain cherry (Prunus tomentosa)
Hardy to Zone 2 to 7. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator.
Chill hours About 400 hours (200 to 700). Published figures disagree, so treat this as a middle estimate. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. Check your chill hours or see our sources.
Pollination Self-Incompatible - Plant Two Genotypes. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), very early spring here. Nanking cherry needs pollen from a genetically different plant. Plant Jules with Ian White or seedling Nanking cherries. Good partners we carry: Ian White Nanking Cherry (Bundle of 2), Nanking Cherry (Bundle of 3). Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Pollination Charts.
Good for Ornamental value (8/10), pies and baking (8/10), jams and jellies (8/10), fresh eating (7/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (7/10), wine (7/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.
Deer Sometimes damaged by deer.
What you get Bare root, 6-18". Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.

Overview

Jules is the sweetest of all the Nankings. Interestingly enough, it seems to be just as cold hardy—if not more so—than the red Nanking. Some of these were left out in pots all winter long with no root protection whatsoever. Only native trees or trees we’ve specifically bred to handle frozen roots can withstand that kind of treatment.

Remarkable Cold Tolerance

The White Nanking seemed to come back even stronger, with no noticeable frost damage to the root tissue. Jules is hardy to Zone 2 and shows serious resilience.

Pollination Info

Plant with Ian or Red Nanking for good cross-pollination.

2027 Plant Sizes

For 2027, these Jules Nankings come in 6-18" and have really nice root systems with lots of fine root hairs.

Questions we get about Jules Nanking Cherry

How cold hardy is Jules Nanking Cherry?

We rate Jules Nanking Cherry hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.

How many chill hours does Jules Nanking Cherry need?

About 400 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 200 and 700. Published figures for Jules and other Nanking cherries run about 200 to 600 hours, so treat that as a middle estimate. That low chill need is why Nanking blooms so early, often before the leaves. Plant it where cold air drains away so frost doesn't take the flowers. Our chill hours guide has a calculator for your winters, and our research page lists the sources.

What is Jules Nanking Cherry good for?

Our top use scores for Jules Nanking Cherry are ornamental value (8/10), pies and baking (8/10), jams and jellies (8/10), fresh eating (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.

Is Jules Nanking Cherry disease resistant?

We don't know yet. Nobody has published solid disease data on Jules Nanking Cherry for black knot and brown rot, so we list it as unknown instead of guessing. That doesn't mean it's weak. Plenty of the plants we grow have never been through formal disease trials. Our cherry disease resistance chart has every rating, the notes and the sources.

Will deer eat Jules Nanking Cherry?

Sometimes. Deer browse Jules Nanking Cherry now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.

What arrives, and when does Jules Nanking Cherry ship?

A dormant bare root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 6-18". We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.

Pollination partners

Trees that will pollenize Jules Nanking Cherry

Jules Nanking Cherry needs pollen from a genetically different plant. Every tree below blooms with it and will do the job. Plant them within about 100 feet.

Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)
Pollination Needs a partner
Pollen Good pollenizer

2 trees we carry will pollenize it. 2 in stock now.

See every pairing on the Pollination Charts Jules Nanking Cherry's bloom group is our best estimate. Watch it bloom and tell us what you see.

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