Cherry

Clouds of white to soft pink blossoms make cherries some of the best-loved flowering plants of spring. This collection pairs the elegant Japanese flowering cherry, a lawn and entryway favorite, with the hardy Nanking cherry, a shrubby fruiting type bearing sweet-tart fruit for fresh eating and preserves. Glossy bark and warm fall leaf color extend their appeal beyond bloom season. Early pollinators feed on the flowers, and birds compete for the fruit. Cherry pits need a long winter-like chill before they will sprout, and the resulting seedlings can double as rootstock for grafting.