DESCRIPTION: Vigorous growing shrub with dark glossy green leaves that turn florescent red in the fall. Upright and bushy habit, suckers profusely to form colonies; use where this trait is desirable. Showy white flowers in spring followed by tart red fruit in summer. Produces edible sour cherries good for cooking and jam.

BOTANICAL NAME: Prunus fruticosa
AVERAGE MATURE  HEIGHT: 1 Meter
AVERAGE MATURE SPREAD: 1 Meter
SUN EXPOSURE: Full sun
FLOWER COLOUR: White
FLOWERING TIME: Spring
FOLIAGE COLOUR: Dark green turning florescent red
COLD HARDINESS: Zone 3 ( Should survive up to -39.9° Celsius )
WATER NEEDS: Average 
OTHER FEATURES: Attracts Birds, Edible

Ornamental Features

Mongolian Cherry is clothed in stunning fragrant white flowers along the branches in mid spring before the leaves. It has dark green foliage throughout the season. The glossy pointy leaves turn an outstanding yellow in the fall. The fruits are showy dark red drupes displayed in mid summer.

This plant is primarily grown as an ornamental, but it's also valued for its edible qualities. The small round tart fruit is most often used in the following ways:

• Cooking
• Preserves

Landscape Attributes

Mongolian Cherry is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration:

• Suckering

Mongolian Cherry is recommended for the following landscape applications:

• Mass Planting
• General Garden Use
• Naturalizing And Woodland Gardens
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Mongolian Cherry will grow to be about 3 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. It tends to fill out right to the ground and therefore doesn't necessarily require facer plants in front. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This shrub should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments.