Bush cherry

Prunus × kerrasis, P. tomentosa

Cherries on a shrub, bred for prairie winters.

Type: shrub · berries and small fruit
Hardiness: zones 2 to 7
Light: full sun
Size: about 6 ft tall, 5 ft wide
Harvest: July
From: Canada and E. Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.

Good for: food, pollinators.

Hardy in zones 2 to 7.

The story

University of Saskatchewan crosses of European sour cherry and Mongolian cherry. These 'tart' cherries can test sweeter (Brix) than store cherries. The acid masks it.

Planting

Full sun. Soil: well-drained (pH 6.0–7.0). Spacing: 5–6 ft. Pollination: 'Valentine' is self-fertile. Your Nanking cherry is a different species and crops best with a second Nanking nearby.

Growing

Water: moderate. Winter: Thin out old stems; grow it as a bush. Spring: Valentine is among the first Romance cherries to bloom. Summer: Net against birds. Wait until fruit is deep red. Fall: Little to do.

Harvest and use

Harvest: July–August. First crop: 2–3 years.

What to watch for

Birds, cherry fruit fly.

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More berries and small fruit

General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home