Blanca P. Tomentosa is a rare white-fruited Nanking cherry, a cold-hardy relative of the cherry that thrives in zones 7-10 and survives temperatures as low as -40°F. This natural sport was discovered in Alberta, Canada, producing sweet white fruit instead of the typical red. The trees grow into wide, bushy forms reaching 8-12 feet tall and bloom in June and July with an abundance of half-inch tart-sweet cherries that can be eaten fresh or preserved. Hardy, dwarfing, and disease-resistant, it brings early summer harvests to gardens where most fruit trees struggle.
Full Sun
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7-10
144in H x ?in W
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High
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The white fruit is the first thing that stops you: a genuine rarity in cherry cultivation, born from a chance discovery in Alberta's cold climate. Beyond its novelty, this variety performs in conditions where tender fruit trees fail, hardy to -40°F and naturally compact enough for small spaces. You'll harvest abundant, flavorful fruit in early summer from a bushy tree that needs no heroic pruning or fussing, making it one of the most forgiving stone fruits available to northern gardeners.
The half-inch white fruit can be eaten fresh off the tree, though you'll find the flavor leans tart and cherry-like. It also excels in pies and jellies, where the natural tartness shines and the fruit's size makes it manageable for cooking. In Russia, where Nanking cherries are traditional, they're valued as both a fresh fruit and a preserving crop, a use this variety supports equally well.
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Harvest the white fruit in early summer during the June-July period when fully ripe and soft to the touch. The half-inch berries pull cleanly from the branch when ready; pick them at peak ripeness for fresh eating or wait until very soft if processing into pies or jelly.
Blanca P. Tomentosa naturally grows into a wide, bushy form with minimal intervention required. Light pruning to shape the tree or remove crossing branches is appropriate, but avoid heavy-handed cuts that reduce the plant's natural dense habit. Prune in late winter or early spring before the June-July bloom.
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“Nanking cherries are native to central Asia, where they've been cultivated for centuries and remain a popular fruiting plant in Russia today. The standard varieties produce red fruit, but Blanca P. Tomentosa emerged as a natural sport, a spontaneous genetic variation found growing in Alberta, Canada. This white-fruited form was preserved and propagated because it demonstrated the same cold hardiness and productivity as its red cousins, making it a botanical curiosity with real horticultural value for gardeners in harsh climates.”