Amur cherry | The Morton Arboretum

Family (English) Rose
Family (botanic) Rosaceae
Planting site Residential and parks, Wide median
Tree or plant type Tree
Foliage Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native locale Non-native
Size range Medium tree (25-40 feet), Large tree (more than 40 feet)
Mature height 35-45 feet
Mature width 25-35 feet
Light exposure Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily)
Hardiness zones Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5 (Northern Illinois), Zone 6 (City of Chicago), Zone 7
Soil preference Moist, well-drained soil
Tolerances Alkaline soil, Dry sites
Season of interest early winter, midwinter, late winter, early spring, mid spring, late spring, midsummer, early fall, mid fall
Flower color and fragrance Fragrant, White
Shape or form Pyramidal, Round
Growth rate Fast, Moderate
Transplants well Yes
Planting considerations May be difficult to find in nurseries
Wildlife Birds
Has cultivars Yes

Native geographic location and habitat:

Amur cherry is native to Korea, Manchuria, and Siberia.

Bark color and texture:

The attractive exfoliating bark is reddish-brown to golden-brown in color. The bark color can vary with age.

Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture:

Deciduous, alternate, simple, ovate leaves with a serrated margin are 2 to 4 inches long. Leaf color is medium green, turning yellow in fall.

Flower arrangement, shape, and size:

The flowers are small clusters of 2 to 3 inch white, fragrant racemes.

Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions:

The red fruit matures to black in August and is loved by birds.

Plant care:

Amur cherry does best in cold climates as it is intolerant of heat and humidity. It prefers full sun, but is tolerant of light shade in a well-drained soil. It does best in a protected site. It prefers a cool root environment, so mulch with a 3 to 4 inch layer of wood chips to moderate the soil temperature. The tree will require pruning to help maintain its shape. This tree may be difficult to find in a nursery.