Nanking cherry, Downy cherry
Prunus tomentosa

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small deciduous shrub. It has many branches. It grows 2 m high and spreads 2.4 m wide. The young stems are downy. The leaves are deep green and are puckered. They are 5 cm long and are fluffy underneath. The flowers are white to pale pink. They are 25 mm across and are single or in pairs. The fruit are small, round and red. They are about 1.25 cm across. There are some named cultivated varieties.

There are about 200 Prunus species. Vit C 63.5 mg/100 g. Amino acid 1992.5 mg/100g.

Where it is found

It is a cool temperate plant. It grows in northern China. It suits hardiness zones 2-8. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Canada, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Tibet, USA

How it is used for food

The unripe fruit are pickled or boiled in honey. The ripe fruit are eaten raw or preserved. The buds are cooked and eaten. The fruit are used for wine.

It is a cultivated food plant.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds

How it is grown

Plants can be grown by layering, division or grafting.

Grafted trees have a shorter life span or 50-60 years.

Its other names

Local names

Aengdo, Aengdonamu, Chinese bush cherry, Korean cherry, Manchu cherry, Mao Yingtao, Maotao, Maoyingtao, Yeyingtao, Yusura ume

Synonyms

Cerasus tomentosa (Thunb.) Wall., nom. nud.; Prunus tomentosa var. endotricha Koehne;