Content Detail

Amur cherry is an ornamental tree native to Manchuria, Siberia, and Korea. It has beautiful amber to reddish-brown flaking bark and clusters of fragrant, white hanging flowers in spring. Its fruit matures from red to black.

  • 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.

List of pests and diseases

Borers, canker diseases, and Japanese beetles can be problems.

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