Nanking Cherry Plant Care, Nanking Cherries are Blooming!

Blooming Timeline & Frost: The bushes bloom very early in spring, often before the last frost date (3:22). While a heavy frost can cause petals to fall (2:52), the bushes are quite frost tolerant, and the gardener has observed that bees can still pollinate flowers even if the petals have dropped (2:56). • Pollination: Despite the cold, bees are active and foraging on the blossoms (1:11). The gardener spots mason bees, sweat bees (native to Missouri), and honey bees (3:52). • Care & Growth: The hedge is about 3 years old, roughly 5-6 feet tall, and requires minimal care beyond some mulch (0:56, 2:38). Supplemental watering is not strictly necessary, though it can lead to faster growth (0:58). • Fruit Production: Each flower has the potential to produce a small, tart cherry (1:34) that is excellent for pies and jams (1:40).