Prunus Family - Prairie Hardy Cherries * Chokecherry * Nanking * Plum

For 2009 we will be selling only the sour cherry selections but will continue to inform customers with growing tips and updates of new varieties in the "prunus" family that are hardy and will grow in our cold climate.

Canada Red Chokecherries anyone?

Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana

Canada Red

The Canada Red is a very hardy grower, excellent for shelter belts. Can be grown as a tree or bush. Not only produces wonderful dark large berries for wine making, jelly and syrup, but also has one of the most dynamic fall foliages ever! A must have for all landscaping plans.

Height: 5m / 15 ft.

Garrington Chokecherry

A heavy annual producer. The large dark purple fruit is good for processing. Large clusters of berries hang on the outside of the bush making picking easy and perfect for mechanical harvesting.

Height: 3m / 9 ft.

Robert Chokecherry

A beautiful red-leafed chokecherry that produces extra long racemes of grape-sized fruit. Used for processing into jelly. Hardy zone 2 selection.

Height: 3m/8-10 ft.

Evans cherries

CHERRY - Prunus

Cupid Cherry NEW CHOICE FOR 2007**

Prunus X Kerrasis 'Cupid'

A new choice for sour cherry. The Cupid is one of the largest of all. Excellent for fresh eating with very good flavour. Good for processing. Blooms one week later that other SK cherries. Self pollinating.

Height: 6-8 ft. Spread: 4 ft. Flowers: White

Evans Cherry Fine choice!

Prunus X Evans

These cherries are so popular on the prairies! They are extremely winter hardy to -45 C. The fruit is a bright red cherry with translucent flesh ripenning in late July, but if left on tree will grow sweeter with time. Excellent sour sweet flavour!! Used for fresh eating, dehydrating, preserves, wine and juice. Produces in the 4^th year and one tree may yield up to 50 pounds of tasty cherries.

Height: 4m/12 ft Spread: 3m/9 ft. Flowers: white

SK Carmine Jewel new!

Prunus X Carmine

A new addition to the prairie hardy cherry selection. This cultivar is a combination of the Prunus cerasus and Prunus fruiticosa making it an excellent dwarf sour cherry. Self fertile and extremely cold hardy. Fruit has dark skin and flesh with a hard pit. May be pruned to a small tree or shrub shape. Eat fresh, use in preserves or wine. Excellent fruit producer and landscaping selection.

Height: 2m / 6 feet Spread: 1m /3 feet Flowers: White

Crimson Passion Cherry

Prunus X kerrasis 'Sk Crimson Passion'

New for 2006. This cherry is a sibling of the Carmine Jewel. A cross between the tart cherry and the Mongolian cherry. The high sugar content makes it excellent for fresh eating. Large size dark red fruit. Hardy to zone 3.

Height: 4-5 feet

Mongolian Cherry

Prunus fruticosa

An attractive foliage through the summer followed by bright red sour cherries that are perfect for juice and jellies. Easy to prune as a landscape feature. Berries are ready in late summer.

Height: 1m / 3 feet Spread: 1m / 3 feet Flowers: White

Romeo Cherry New for 2007**

Prunus X kerrasis 'romeo'

Very favorable for its fresh eating taste. Good for processing. Self Pollinating. Another sour cherry introduction for the University of Saskatchewan.

Height: 6-8 ft. Spread: 4-5 ft. Flowers: White

Valentine Cherry New for 2007*

Prunus X kerrasis 'valentine'

Another new sour cherry introduction by the University of Saskatchewan. This tart variety is best used for processing. Excellent pie cherry. The most productive yields of all SK cherries. Self pollinating.

Height: 6-8 ft. Spread: 4-5 ft Flowers: White

Western Sand Cherry

Sprawling shrub with gray-green foliage during summer, white flowers in the spring and black fruit in late summer. Fruit is good for jelly. A perfect pollinator for plums and cherry plums. Good in drought areas. Prefers well drained soil and full sun.

Height: 1m / 3 feet Spread: 1m / 3 feet Flowers: White

NANKING CHERRY - Prunus Tomentosa

Red Nanking Cherry

(Prunus tomentosa)

This upright spreading shrub produces bright red cherries about 1.5 cm round. A good pollinator for other berry/cherry bushes. Fruit may be eaten fresh or used in jam, jelly, juice and wine. A must have!

Height: 2m / 6 ft Spread: 2m / 6ft Flowers: Small Pink/white

White Nanking Cherry

Prunus tomentosa 'Alba'

A different choice of Nanking cherry. Fast growing shrub that displays white fruit in the summer. Attractive in a feature garden.

Height: 2m / 6 ft Spread: 2m / 6 ft Flowers: Small Pinkish white

Black Nanking Cherry

Prunus tomentosa 'nigra'

Similar to the Red Nanking, but with larger fruit and larger dark foliage. Perfect selection for jams with the pleasing flavoured berries. Easily pruned for desired shape.

Height: 2m / 6 ft Spread: 2m / 6 ft Flowers: Small white

PLUMS - Prunus

Brook Gold Plum

Prunus salicina 'Brook Gold'

A freestone plum with golden skin and yellow flesh; good for eating and preserving. Ripens early season making it a good choice for colder climates. Pollinate with Opata Plum, Pembina Plum or Western Sand Cherry.

Height: 5m / 15 ft Spread: 3m / 9 ft Zone: 3

Brook Red Plum

Prunus salicina "Brook Red'

A late season plum, large red fruit with orange flesh; excellent for eating fresh and for preserving. Pollinate with Opata Plum or Nanking Cherry.

Height: 5m / 15 ft Spread: 3m / 9 ft. Zone: 3

Bounty Plum

Prunus X Bounty

New for 2007. Medium sized plum, dark red with yellow flesh. Good for eating fresh or cooking. Ripens in late August.

Height: 5m / 15 ft Spread: 3m / 9 ft Zone: 2

Pembina Plum **Good Choice**

Prunus 'Pembina'

A late season variety; large and dark red fruit with yellow flesh. The finest plum on the prairies for eating fresh. Delicious!! Pollinate with Brookred, Opata or Western Sand Cherry.

Height: 5m / 15 ft Spread: 3m / 9 ft Zone: 3

Cherry Plums (CHUMS)- Prunus

Opata Cherry Plum

Prunus X 'Opata'

A chum with small fruit, green skin with red over green flesh. Juicy sweet flavour. Ripens in late August. Good for our prairie summers.

Height: 10 ft. Spread: 6 ft.

Manor Cherry Plum

Prunus X Manor

Small fruit with dark purple-red flesh that is delicious and juicy. Fruit is 2.5 - 3.0 cm in diameter. Excellent for preserves and fresh eating. Zone 2. Ripens early September.

Height: 10 ft. Spread: 6 ft.

Sapa Cherry Plum

Prunus X Sapa

Produces small fruit with dark purple flesh. Good for canning and jams. Ripens in late August. Earlier than the Manor. Hardy to zone 2.

Height: 9 ft. Spread: 6 ft.

Pollination tips: You will need two different varieties from the same Prunus family for good pollination. As stated above, most members of the Prunus family can be pollinated with a Western Sand Cherry or another Plum In urban areas, if they are within 150 metres (450 feet) of your tree, pollination can take place.