The Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is a hardy, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub native to northern and western China. Gardeners value it for its resilience to cold and drought and its ornamental qualities, including fragrant white-to-pink blossoms in early spring. The shrub produces abundant crops of small, sweet-tart red drupes. It is a functional plant for edible landscapes, hedges, and windbreaks. Propagation is straightforward using either sexual reproduction via seed or asexual cloning techniques like cuttings and suckers.
Preparing for Propagation
Successful propagation requires selecting the appropriate time of year, which depends on the method chosen. For seeds, start in late fall or early winter so the required cold period is completed before spring. Asexual methods are timed based on wood maturity; softwood cuttings are taken in mid-summer, and hardwood cuttings are collected during winter dormancy. Supplies include a sterile, well-draining planting medium, such as a mix of peat, perlite, or sand. Rooting hormone significantly increases the success of cuttings, and containers should be sterilized beforehand.
Propagation by Seed
Growing Nanking cherry from seed is a natural method, but it often results in genetic variation, meaning the new plant may not match the parent. Immediately after harvesting, clean the pits to remove all pulp, then air-dry them for a few days before stratification. Seeds require cold stratification to break dormancy, needing 90 to 120 days of exposure to cold, moist conditions (32 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit).
To stratify indoors, place cleaned seeds in a sealed container with a moistened medium like peat moss or vermiculite, and store it in a refrigerator. Alternatively, sow seeds directly outdoors in late fall. Plant the prepared seeds in the spring in well-draining soil, covering them with about two centimeters of soil, and keep the young seedlings consistently moist after germination.
Asexual Methods Cuttings and Suckers
Asexual propagation ensures the new plant is a genetic clone of the parent, preserving desirable traits like fruit flavor or size. Cuttings can be taken using two types of plant material: softwood and hardwood.
Cuttings
Softwood cuttings are taken from the current year’s new growth in early to mid-summer. They should be eight to twelve inches long with four nodes and dipped in a less concentrated rooting hormone solution. These cuttings require a high-humidity environment, often achieved with a plastic dome or misting system, to prevent desiccation while roots form.
Hardwood cuttings are taken in the late fall or winter from one-year-old, dormant wood. They are typically longer and thicker than softwood material. Hardwood cuttings benefit from a more concentrated rooting hormone application before being planted directly into a well-drained substrate.
Suckers
The Nanking cherry shrub naturally produces suckers, which are shoots that emerge from the roots near the base of the parent plant. These suckers are already rooted offsets and represent a simple method of cloning the plant. To separate a sucker, wait until the plant is dormant in the fall or winter. Sever the underground connection to the main root system with a sharp spade, then carefully dig up the rooted sucker and immediately transplant it to its new location.
Establishing New Plants
Once seedlings have emerged or cuttings have successfully rooted, they must be gradually acclimated to outdoor conditions in a process known as hardening off. This transition involves slowly exposing the young plants to increased sunlight, wind, and temperature fluctuations over several weeks before permanent planting. This step is important for plants that were rooted or germinated indoors.
The optimal time to transplant the young Nanking cherry plants into their final garden location is during the dormant season, either in the fall or early spring. Fall planting allows the root system to establish itself before the ground freezes. Select a site that receives full sun and has well-drained, loamy soil with a neutral pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
When planting, dig a hole that is twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper, ensuring the root collar is level with the surrounding soil surface. After transplanting, water the young shrub thoroughly and apply a layer of organic mulch around the base, keeping it a few inches away from the stem. For the first year, young Nanking cherries require consistent moisture until their root systems are fully established.