Nanking Cherry | Wild Edible

 

I have learned a new wild edible. This is the Nanking Cherry. They are succulent tart little cherries grown on a shrub.

Do you remember this flower that bloomed in March that I saw during my morning walks but didn't know what kind of flowers is was?

Now on my morning walks I see these cherries. I was able to look up the shrub now that it has leaves and berries and make a sure identification.

Nanking Cherries are a drought resistant shrub. I need to get a bunch of these planted in my yard. I think they would make a great hedge. The cherries are tart, delicious, and prolific. All along each branch there are cherries up and down. They would make good pies and jam I think. The trouble would be getting the pits out. They have a miniature cherry pit in each fruit. 

 For further reading check out this page:

https://www.foragecolorado.com/post/nanking-cherry-prunus-tomentosa-foraging-identification