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Uncommon Collector Fruit (Che, Cornelian Cherry, Sea Buckthorn, etc.)
Nanking Cherry
✓ VerifiedAlso known as: Prunus tomentosa
China
Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is native to China, Mongolia, the Himalayas, and parts of Korea and Japan, and has long been grown both as a fruiting shrub and as an ornamental for its profuse, fragrant spring blossoms. It is genuinely valued for its exceptional cold hardiness, tolerating winters considerably harsher than most other cherry species can survive, which has made it a real, practical choice for orchards in cold Northern climates where standard sweet or sour cherries struggle. I was not able to find documented breeder or cultivar-specific origin history beyond this general species background. If you have a source for more specific variety history, it can be corrected with real information.
Submitted by @system · 10 days ago
Counts toward the overall Top Tier Fruit list — every category's votes are compared the same way.
Growing & Care
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 2-7
Pollination
Self-fertile, though yields improve with a second plant nearby.
Care info
Remarkably cold-hardy, tolerating winters far colder than any standard sweet or tart cherry.
Recommendations
The variety to try if you want cherry-family fruit in a genuinely cold, short-season climate.
Flavor Profile
Sweet-tart, similar in character to a small sour cherry
Quick facts
Skin color
Bright red
Size
Small
Hardiness zone
USDA Zones 2-7