Culture
Best grown in evenly moist to dry, well-draining soils in full sun. Tolerant of shallow, rocky soils. Hardy in Zones 6-9.
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".
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.
Uses
Accent specimen, shrub borders, mixed borders.