Asian shrub cherry (Cerasus erythrocarpa)
Cerasus erythrocarpa, the Asian shrub cherry, features pale pink spring blooms and bright red fruit, thriving in sunny spots in Zones 6-9.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Cerasus erythrocarpa, or Asian shrub cherry, offers delicate spring beauty combined with lasting summer color from its fruit display. This deciduous shrub is native to the rocky, sub-alpine zones of Central Asia, bringing a tough, drought-tolerant profile to the garden. Gardeners seeking reliable structure and moderate seasonal interest will appreciate its manageable size and tolerance for challenging soils.
Its characteristic pale pink flowers emerge robustly between April and May, providing early-season appeal before the foliage fully develops. Following the bloom, the plant produces bright red drupes, contributing to its ornamental value. Cerasus erythrocarpa forms a dense, rounded shape, making it an excellent textural element in mixed plantings.
This resilient species thrives primarily in full sun, which helps maximize both flowering and fruiting performance. For gardeners in USDA Zones 6 through 9, the Asian shrub cherry presents a low-hassle option, provided its basic needs for well-drained soil are met. The specific epithet erythrocarpa fittingly highlights its most notable feature: red fruit.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Rosaceae
- Plant Type: Deciduous shrub
- Native Range: Central Asia
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 6-9
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 2.5-6.5 ft
- Spread: 2.5-6.5 ft
- Bloom Time: April to May
- Bloom Description: Pale pink
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Dry to medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
For optimal establishment, plant Cerasus erythrocarpa during its dormant season, either early spring before bud break or in the fall after leaf drop, ensuring the soil is well-draining. This species is notably tolerant of shallow, rocky soils, mimicking its native habitat; however, avoid areas where water pools after heavy rains, as this can lead to root issues. Ensure the planting site receives full sun throughout the day to support strong growth and abundant flowering.
Once established, the Asian shrub cherry exhibits good drought tolerance, requiring supplemental watering primarily during prolonged dry spells. Aim for consistently dry to medium moisture levels, allowing the root zone to dry out slightly between waterings. Fertilization is generally unnecessary owing to the plant’s adaptation to nutrient-poor, rocky slopes; focus instead on applying a layer of organic mulch to conserve moisture and regulate soil temperature.
Maintenance is generally considered medium. Pruning should be minimal, primarily focused on removing any dead, damaged, or crossing branches during the late winter. Because Cerasus erythrocarpa is not extremely common in widespread nurseries, careful observation for typical cherry pests and diseases is prudent, though healthy plants in appropriate sites seldom require intensive treatment.
Landscape Uses
The adaptable form and size of the Asian shrub cherry make it a versatile choice in structured landscaping. It functions exceptionally well as an accent specimen, providing vertical interest without attaining towering heights. Its consistent 2.5 to 6.5-foot stature also positions it perfectly within the middle line of shrub borders, offering textural contrast against finer-leaved evergreens or broader deciduous companions.
Consider using Cerasus erythrocarpa to anchor mixed borders where successive seasons of interest are desired. The early spring flowers offer a welcome signal, followed by the long-lasting display of bright red fruit that draws the eye throughout summer and into early fall. It pairs well with later-blooming shrubs or groundcovers that can tolerate similar dry, sunny conditions and excellent drainage.
For more naturalistic designs, this species can be massed to replicate its native thicket growth habit. Its tolerance for rocky substrates means it can be incorporated into retaining walls or slopes where other woody plants might struggle. This resilient specimen ensures that even challenging, exposed areas contribute meaningful seasonal structure to the landscape design.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Cerasus erythrocarpa, commonly called red cherry, is a deciduous shrub native to rocky slopes and thickets in the sub-alpine zones of the Pamir-Alay and western Tian Shan mountain ranges of Central Asia. Mature plants will reach 2.5-6.5’ tall with a similar spread. The lanceolate to obovate foliage has toothed margins and will reach 0.5-1” long and 0.25-0.5” wide. The five-petaled, pale pink flowers will reach 0.75” wide and bloom in spring. The flowers are followed by rounded to ovoid, bright red drupes that will reach between 0.25-0.5” wide and mature in summer.The genus name Cerasus is the Latin word for cherry.The specific epithet erythrocarpa means “red-fruited”.
Tolerances
No specific tolerances were listed in the provided data.
Potential Problems
Although this plant is not common in cultivation, it is likely to to troubled by many of the same pests and diseases that affect cherries. These include trunk cankers and borers, Japanese beetles, aphids, spider mites, scale, leafhoppers, caterpillars and tent caterpillars. Potential diseases include leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, honey fungus and fireblight.
To mitigate pest issues, ensure excellent air circulation by avoiding overcrowding during planting. Routine inspection, coupled with horticultural oils or insecticidal soap for small infestations of aphids or mites, is often sufficient. For fungal concerns like powdery mildew, ensuring the Asian shrub cherry receives full sun and managing overhead watering are key preventative measures.
Be particularly vigilant for signs of trunk cankers or dieback, which often result from environmental stress or poor drainage. Correcting soil compaction or improving drainage in heavy clay soils can greatly reduce the risk of these more serious issues affecting your Cerasus erythrocarpa.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Asian shrub cherry suitable for?
The Asian shrub cherry (Cerasus erythrocarpa) is suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 6 through 9.
How large does Cerasus erythrocarpa grow?
This shrub typically reaches a mature height between 2.5 and 6.5 feet, with a similar spread.
What sun exposure does Asian shrub cherry need?
Cerasus erythrocarpa requires full sun exposure to grow successfully and produce its best blooms and fruit.
When does Asian shrub cherry bloom?
The Asian shrub cherry blooms from April to May, producing attractive pale pink flowers.
Conclusion
The Cerasus erythrocarpa provides undeniable value to the home landscape, offering resilient structure, early spring blooms, and vibrant summer fruit, all while tolerating relatively dry and rocky conditions. For gardeners seeking a robust, medium-sized deciduous shrub native to Central Asia, the Asian shrub cherry is an excellent, albeit uncommon, addition. Before planting, confirm your location falls within Zones 6-9 and prepare a site with full sun and excellent drainage.
Companion Planting
Given that Cerasus erythrocarpa thrives in full sun and prefers dry to medium, gritty soils, companion plants should share these specific cultural demands. Excellent partners are drought-tolerant perennials and smaller shrubs that do not demand constant moisture. Consider pairing it with ornamental grasses like Blue Oat Grass (Helictotrichon sempervirens) for textural contrast or low-growing Sedums, which thrive in lean, well-draining soil environments mirroring the needs of the Asian shrub cherry.
Avoid planting sensitive, moisture-loving perennials directly at the base of the Cerasus erythrocarpa, as these companions will compete unsuccessfully for the drier soil moisture it requires. Furthermore, selecting species that bloom later than the shrub cherry will extend the visual interest of the planting bed well into the summer season, capitalizing on the lingering red fruit display.
Wildlife Benefits
While specific ecological data may be limited for this less common species, plants in the Prunus group—the genus that includes cherries—are highly valuable to beneficial insects due to their early bloom time. The pale pink flowers of the Asian shrub cherry provide an essential early nectar and pollen source for emerging bees and other pollinators during the spring transition.
The bright red drupes produced by Cerasus erythrocarpa serve as a food source for local bird populations once they mature in the summer. Planting this shrub near natural areas or bird feeding stations can help support local fauna throughout the growing season. Its dense shrub habit also offers valuable shelter for smaller wildlife and nesting birds.
