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Nanking Cherry (Bundle of 3)
$79.99
Reliable shipping
Flexible returns
Ripening
Will it finish before your first hard freeze?
Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)At a glance: 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.
| 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. |
|---|---|
| Pollination | Self-Incompatible - Plant Two Genotypes. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), very early spring here. Each Nanking cherry needs pollen from a different plant. This bundle of seedlings pollenizes itself, and it also pairs with Ian White or Jules. Good partners we carry: Ian White Nanking Cherry (Bundle of 2), Jules Nanking Cherry (Bundle of 2). Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Pollination Charts. |
| Good for | Jams and jellies (8/10), juice and sweet cider (8/10), ornamental value (8/10), fresh eating (7/10), windbreaks and hedgerows (7/10), wine (6/10). 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, 2-3 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out. |
Overview
One of our all-time favorites, Nanking cherry is a must-have in any edible landscape. Hardy down to Zone 2, this small tree/large shrub produces excellent-tasting cherries—not quite tart, not quite sweet. They’ve got a flavor all their own and are great for fresh eating, but also shine when used for juicing.
Early Harvest & Long Hanging Fruit
One of the first fruits to come on in the summer, Nankings stay on the tree for a long time, giving you a nice, extended harvest window throughout the growing season.
Easy Maintenance & Long-Term Care
They do require renewal pruning to maintain vigor and prevent disease—usually around 10 years after planting. Hopefully by then we’ll have a video up showing what that process looks like!
Hardy to Zone 2 (-40°F or more).
Plant Size
Shrubs are 2-3 ft. tall
Questions we get about Nanking Cherry
How cold hardy is Nanking Cherry?
We rate 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.
What is Nanking Cherry good for?
Our top use scores for Nanking Cherry are jams and jellies (8/10), juice and sweet cider (8/10), ornamental value (8/10), fresh eating (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.
Will deer eat Nanking Cherry?
Sometimes. Deer browse Nanking Cherry now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.
What arrives, and when does 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: 2-3 ft. 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 Nanking Cherry
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
See every pairing on the Pollination Charts
Nanking Cherry's bloom group is our best estimate. Watch it bloom and tell us what you see.