Cherry plum (myrobalan)
Prunus cerasifera
Early small plums in red and gold; the hedgerow plum of Europe and a common rootstock.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 9
Light: full sun
Size: about 20 ft tall, 20 ft wide
Harvest: July to August
From: Balkans to Central Asia
Drought-hardy once established
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators, wildlife.
Native to: Temperate Europe, Central Asian steppe, Caucasus. Hardy in zones 4 to 9.
The story
The cherry plum grows wild from the Balkans through the Caucasus to Central Asia, where it has been eaten fresh, dried and pickled for thousands of years; Georgia's tkemali sauce is made from it, and it is the rootstock under most orchard plums.
Planting
Full sun, any drained soil; it tolerates drought and clay. Plant two seedlings for pollination; a 20-foot tree with the earliest white bloom of spring.
Growing
Water the first years, then little. Prune lightly in summer. It seeds itself around.
Harvest and use
Fruit ripens red or yellow in early summer; sweet-tart, soft. Eat fresh, dry, make tkemali, or jam.
What to watch for
Spring frost on the early bloom; brown rot.
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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