Felt cherry: variety description, photos, reviews

According to the scientific classification, the Felt cherry (Prunus tomentosa) belongs to the genus Plum, it is a close relative of all representatives of the subgenus Cherries, peaches and apricots. The homeland of the plant is China, Mongolia, Korea. In southern Kyrgyzstan, there is also a wild-growing felt cherry shie or chiya, as the locals call it.

The plant came to the territory of Russia at the end of the 19th century from Manchuria, took root in the Far East, and from there moved to other cold regions of the country, the European part, Belarus and Ukraine. Of the breeders, Michurin was the first to pay attention to the Chinese felt cherry. He became interested in her unprecedented frost resistance and fruiting stability. This distinguished the species from other cherries and allowed it to be cultivated in harsh climates.

general description

Felt cherry is a small tree or shrub with several trunks from 150 to 250 cm in height. Some varieties can grow up to 300 cm under high cultivation culture. The plant owes its name to pubescent shoots, leaves, and often berries. Outwardly, the felt cherry is very different from the ordinary one. Its leaves are small, strongly corrugated and covered with soft fluff, young shoots are greenish-brown.

Flowers can be white or all shades of pink. In the spring, they appear earlier or simultaneously with the leaves and cover the bush so abundantly that it looks like a huge bouquet. Felt cherry berries are small, with a diameter of 0.8 to 1.5 cm, occasionally 3 cm (hybrid with a cherry). They are attached to short stalks and look like pink, red, in some varieties, almost black beads.

The taste of the berries is sweet, bland, with absolutely no bitterness or astringency. Sourness may be present, often light, less often pronounced. The oblong pointed bone does not separate from the pulp. It is almost impossible to pick felt cherries without damaging the juicy berries, because of this, its transportability is low. In recent years, varieties with gristly elastic flesh have been created. The yield varies greatly depending on the variety, weather conditions, care and ranges from 3 to 14 kg per bush.

Felt cherries begin to bear fruit early:

grown from a bone - for 3-4 years;
obtained from the cuttings - 2-3 years after planting;
vaccinated - next year.

Berries ripen about a week earlier than other species - steppe, sandy, ordinary.

Comment! Children especially love felt cherries.

Growing features

Most varieties of Chinese cherry trees require cross-pollination. Therefore, you need to plant several varieties, or place a plum or apricot next to it. There are also self-pollinated varieties of felt cherries.

The plant can withstand frosts up to 40 degrees, prefers sunny places and absolutely cannot stand water stagnation at the roots. After full ripening, the berries stay on the bush, without losing their attractiveness and taste for a very long time. Felt cherry is resistant to the scourge of other species - coccomycosis. It bears fruit every year well, but requires regular sanitary and shaping pruning.

More tips for growing this crop will give a video about felt cherry:

Main problems

The cultivation of the Chinese cherry comes with some difficulties. In recent years, she has suffered greatly from monilial burn. In this destructive disease, the flowers and leaves first wither, then the branches begin to die off. If you do not remove the affected shoots, capturing 15-20 cm of healthy wood, the entire bush may disappear.

Where there is a high likelihood of return frost, medium and late varieties should be grown. The Chinese woman begins to bloom early, the buds can suffer not only from low temperatures, but also due to the absence of bees or bumblebees pollinating the plant.

Although felt cherry easily tolerates frost up to 40 degrees, in especially harsh winters, the cambium (part of the shoot between the wood and bark) and the core can freeze on old branches. They have to be cut out mercilessly, capturing a piece of healthy tissue.

The next problem is the drying out of the root collar, which happens from waterlogging of the soil in late summer or autumn, when the plantings are flooded when the snow melts. To avoid trouble, cherries are placed on hills or other areas where snow does not linger. If this cannot be done, not a tree that is rooted or grown from a seed is planted, but grafted on a stem that is resistant to soaking.

Recommendations for the selection of varieties

When choosing a variety for the garden, it is not enough to look at a photo of a felt cherry and buy the one you like. The plant must be designated for planting in your area. It is also necessary to pay attention to the reviews of gardeners about felt cherries exclusively on a territorial basis. If a variety feels good and bears fruit abundantly in the Moscow region, it is quite possible that growing it in the Leningrad region will bring disappointment.

Pay attention to the timing of the ripening of cherries - planting just a few bushes can extend the collection of berries for more than a month. In addition, early varieties should not be purchased by residents of regions where the likelihood of recurrent frosts is high.

The habit of the bush also matters - no matter how we console ourselves that this cherry is small, it can grow up to 2.5 meters, and you need to plant several bushes. In addition, the plant is very picky in choosing a place - it will be accepted almost everywhere, but in lowlands or under a thick snow cover it can die in the first thaw. In areas of a small area, it makes sense to plant a bush felt cherry, branching directly from the base of the trunk.

Comment! The plant is so attractive that it is often used for decorative purposes.

Felt cherry varieties for the Moscow region

The most difficult thing is to find the best varieties of felt cherries for the Moscow region. From the photos of numerous online stores, elegant bushes with red berries look at the consumer, and advertising claims that the plants will take root well. Of course, the Chinese cherry is unpretentious, but only in the Far East.

In the Moscow region and other regions of the Middle Lane, such troubles as recurrent frosts and damping of the neck lie in wait for it. The plant does not like the acidic dense soil - it needs to be improved by adding lime, a large amount of organic matter and ash.

In fact, any varieties allowed for cultivation in all regions are suitable for the Moscow region, if you choose an elevated place for planting and cultivate the soil. It is important in no case to buy seedlings brought from the southern regions, Moldova or Ukraine. They are almost 100% unlikely to survive the winter.

Among other varieties suitable for planting in the Moscow region, I would like to highlight:

Alice;
Natalie;
Fairy tale;
Triana;
Anniversary;
Altan;
Damanka;
Beauty;
Summer;
Dream.

There is no point in worrying about self-fertile varieties of felt cherries for the Moscow region. It is difficult to find an area that does not have plums or apricots. And in places where these trees are not within a radius of 40 m, there are no felt cherries.

Comment! In the suburbs of Moscow, the Chinese woman should not become the main crop, she is just a good addition to your table, and not a replacement for ordinary cherries.

Felt cherry varieties for Siberia and the Urals

It makes no sense to list the varieties growing in the Urals and Siberia. Almost all cultivars of felt cherry were bred in the Far East, the overwhelming majority - by the experimental station of the N.I. N.I. Vavilov. Climatic conditions make it possible to plant a Chinese woman not only in gardens, but also as a hedge or to strengthen the slopes.

In the northernmost regions, where the temperature in winter drops below 40 degrees and there is a danger of freezing of the cambium, it is recommended to grow the Chinese as a creeping crop. To do this, the bush is planted at an angle of 45 degrees, and covered with spruce branches for the winter.

How to choose a felt cherry for the Leningrad region

In the Northwest, the climate is unstable. Spring thaws are replaced by frosts - this is the return frost, dangerous for felt cherries. Plants overwinter well, but the root collar often blows out. Due to the untimely departure of bees, early Chinese varieties will bloom profusely, but will not be able to bear fruit annually. Better to plant late to medium ripening.

The following varieties have shown themselves well:

Alice;
Dream;
Natalie;
Story;
Triana;
Altana;
White;
Damanka.

The best varieties of felt cherries

Now the selection of the Chinese is actively carried out not only in the Far East, where it has long replaced the usual cherry, but also in other regions. This is partly due to an epidemic of coccomycosis that has destroyed most of the orchards, but the increased interest in new varieties also played a role. They differ not only in terms of ripening, but also in size, fruit color, taste. Recently, varieties with gristly pulp have been created, allowing berries to be stored for up to 5 days.

Early ripe

Chinese cherries ripen earlier than usual by almost 10 days. The first red beads are eagerly awaited by children - the size of the bush allows them to pick the fruits on their own, and they like the freshish-sweet taste much more than the sour berries of the steppe. Early maturing varieties can be planted in all regions, except for those where recurrent frosts often occur.

Delight

The variety of Chinese cherry Vostorg was created by the Far Eastern Experimental Station in 1999. The bush is rooted, with straight thick shoots forming an oval dense crown, wrinkled small leaves. The berries are bright red, oval, with an average weight of 3.2 g, a tasting rating of 4 points. The Delight variety is self-fertile, resistant to frost and fungal diseases, yields about 9 kg of fruit per bush annually. This cherry is approved for cultivation in all regions, but develops best in the Far East.

Children

The Detskaya variety was bred in the Far East and adopted by the State Register in 1999. A medium-sized bush, with pubescent brownish-brown branches, a thin broad-oval crown. Fruiting early, comes in the 4th year. The berries are bright red, round, sweet and sour, with gristly flesh. Tasting score - 3.8 points, weight - 3.5 g, average yield - 10 kg. This variety is self-fertile, can be grown in all regions, but will show itself best in the Far East.

The desired

The variety Zhelannaya has a multi-stemmed bush, of medium density, up to 2.5 m high.The berries are dense, dark red, slightly flattened, the average weight is 3.4 g. The taste of the pulp is sweet and sour, the yield is 6.7-12 kg with bush.

Twinkle

Ogonyok is one of the first Far Eastern varieties, bred in 1965. It grows as a compact bush slightly more than 2 m high, 2.8 m wide with pubescent leaves and pale pink flowers. The berries are pale red, with pink juice, pubescent, their average weight is 2.5 g. The taste is sweet, with sourness, the tasting rating is 4.5 points.

Salute

The Salyut variety is self-fertile, its bush grows up to 2 m, the berries are juicy, sweet with sourness, weighing 2-4 g. The stone is small, it does not lag behind the pulp.

Morning

Cherry Morning is self-fertile, with a compact crown, grows quickly.The berries are small (up to 3 g), medium-early ripening, juicy, red, with an almost smooth skin. The yield of an adult bush is 9 kg. Variety Morning is resistant to fungal diseases.

Gypsy

The early variety Tsyganka forms a medium-sized bush. The berries are large, dark cherry, sweet, very tasty, ripen at the same time. The average yield of an adult bush is 8-10 kg. Seedlings of felt cherry Gypsy do not tolerate waterlogging. The variety is resistant to drought, recurrent frosts and diseases.

Mid-season

The most numerous group of felt cherries is formed by mid-season varieties. They suffer less from recurrent frosts than early ones.

Cupid

This variety is zoned in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk Territories, bred in the DalNIISH. Bushes are tall, with sparse branching. Shoots are medium in thickness, strongly pubescent, old branches are curved. Fruits usually weighing 2.7 g are claret-red, glossy, sweet and sour, with a liquid pulp. Cupid is grafted onto wild-growing felt cherry or Ussuri plum.

Alice

Variety Alisa, bred by the Far Eastern Experimental Station, was adopted by the State Register in 1997. A bush with pubescent brown shoots forms a crown of medium density. Dark-burgundy berries with juicy pulp are one-dimensional, their weight reaches 3.3 g, the assessment of tasters is 4.5 points. Alice is a self-fertile and disease-resistant variety.

Okeanskaya Virovskaya

This variety was created in the Far East in 1987, the year of adoption by the State Register is 1996. Okeanskaya Virovskaya is approved for cultivation throughout Russia, but bears fruit best of all in its native region. Own-rooted bush, medium size, crown - paniculate. The variety begins to bear fruit in the 3rd year. The berries are claret, with cartilaginous dark red flesh. Tasting mark - 4 points, fruit taste - sweet and sour.

Natalie

Chinese cherry Natalie was adopted by the State Register in 1997, the originator is the Far Eastern Experimental Station. The variety is universal, grown in all regions of the Russian Federation. A tall bush with medium density of brown branches, for 3 or 4 years it enters full fruiting. Berries with a semi-dry separation, dark red color, one-dimensional, weighing 4 g. Natalie has a high taste rating - 4.5 points, the flesh is gristly, red, sweet-sour.

Pioneer

The Pionerka variety is one of the first varieties created by the V.I. Vavilov. It forms a bush 1.5-2 m tall, with elastic thin branches. Bright red fruits weighing 2.8 g are flattened, uneven. The Pionerka variety requires pollination.

Pink fruit

The Rozovaya Urozhainaya variety, created in the Far East, is in the State Grade Testing. Forms a sprawling bush of medium height with pubescent shoots and leaves. Berries weighing about 3 g are pink, rounded-flattened. The pulp is pleasant to the taste, sweet, with sourness, the tasting score is 4 points. The first berries on the scion appear in the second year. The yield of the bush is up to 9 kg. Recommended for growing in the Far East.

Darkie East

This variety was registered by the State Register in 1999, created by the Institute. Vavilov, can grow in all regions, but it develops best at home. Dark-skinned Vostochnaya is self-fertile, forms a small bush with a dense wide crown, strongly pubescent shoots and leaves. Dark-burgundy berries of wide-oval shape, weighing 2.5 g. The taste of sweet-sour pulp was rated 4. The yield of the variety is 7 kg per plant.

Story

This self-infertile variety was registered by the State Register in 1999 and approved for cultivation in all regions of the Russian Federation. A medium-sized self-rooted bush with an oval crown begins to bear fruit in the 4th year. Berries are maroon, oval, weighing 3.3 g. Cartilaginous flesh is sweet and sour, tasters' assessment - 3.8 points. Berries up to 10 kg are harvested from the bush.

Triana

Triana was created in the Far East, registered in 1999 by the State Register and approved for cultivation in all regions. Forms a medium-sized bush with an elongated oval crown. Dark pink fruits with a taste of 3.8 points are wide-oval, weighing 3.7 g.The taste of the berries is sweet and sour, and the flesh is firm, like a sweet cherry. The variety is self-fertile, resistant to fungal diseases, yields 10 kg.

Princess

Self-infertile variety Princess of universal purpose, created by the Institute. Vavilov and was registered in 1999. A small bush with a spreading crown can be grown in all regions, forms a good harvest by the 4th year. Berries weighing 3.6 g are bright pink in color, with red tight flesh. The taste of the fruit is sweet and sour, rated by the tasters at 3.8 points. The average yield per bush is 10 kg.

Anniversary

The Far East variety Yubileinaya, adopted in 1999 by the State Register, can grow in all regions. A medium-sized bush with an oval crown begins to yield in the 4th year. Oval fruits are burgundy, weighing about 3.5 g, with a taste rating of 4.3 points, sweet and sour. The average yield of an adult bush is 9 kg.

Khabarovsk

The Khabarovsk variety has an increased winter hardiness. Medium-sized shrub with pubescent shoots and leaves, gives pink fruits weighing about 3 g. The taste of the berries is sweet, the shape is slightly flattened.

Late ripening

Late-ripening varieties are boldly grown in any region - they suffer the least from neck decay and recurrent frosts. Although by the time the berries ripen, ordinary and steppe cherries often come into fruition, felt cherries will not be left unattended - children love them very much.

Altana

The Atlanta variety was created by the Buryat Research Institute of Agriculture in 2000. In 2005, it was adopted by the State Register and approved for cultivation throughout Russia. Altana is a felt cherry with a dense round crown that begins to bear fruit in the 4th year after planting. Thin straight shoots and leaves are heavily pubescent. One-dimensional dark red berries gain weight in 2 g. Fruits are juicy, tender, sour-sweet, their taste is estimated at 5 points. The variety is characterized as resistant to fungal diseases.

White

The Belaya felt cherry variety, registered in 2009, belongs to the Far Eastern selection and is recommended for cultivation in all regions. Forms a tree with a spreading crown, pubescent shoots and curved wrinkled leaves. Wide-oval fruits weighing 1.6 g are white, pleasant to the taste. The tasting score is 3.6 points. The Belaya variety from 2011 to 2041 is protected by a protective patent.

Damanka

Many consider Damanka to be the most delicious variety of Chinese. It was created with the participation of sand cherries; among others, it stands out for the almost black color of the fruit. Berries weighing more than 3 g each, shiny and very beautiful. The Damanka variety is distinguished by its early maturity and rapid growth, even self-rooted plants give a decent harvest already in the third year. This cherry is self-fertile, with a yield of 8 kg per bush.

Marvelous

Variety Divnaya grows in a bush about 2 m high. The crown is dense, shoots and leaves are abundantly covered with bristles. Round berries with a thin skin and sweet-sour flesh are scarlet-red. Fruiting profuse from 3-4 years of age.

Beauty

The Krasavitsa variety was bred by the Institute. Vavilov, year of carrying in the State Register - 1999. A bush with a wide crown grows to medium size and begins to bear fruit 3-4 years after placement in the garden. Wide-round berries of dark pink color with red flesh are distinguished by a mass of 3 g. Sweet and sour taste is estimated at 4 points. The beauty is a self-fertile variety, resistant to diseases, with a yield of up to 10 kg per bush.

Summer

Seedlings Felt Cherry Summer withdrawn by the Far Eastern Research Institute of Agriculture in 1957. In 1965, the variety was registered and approved for use throughout the Russian Federation. Summer is a universal cherry with light pink berries weighing 3.3 g and a large seed. The taste is bland, sweet and sour. Best of all, the Leto variety grows in the Khabarovsk Territory.

Dream

The dream belongs to promising varieties that grow well in all regions. It was created by the V.I. Vavilov in 1986The dream forms a bush with a dense round crown, maroon berries weighing 3-3.3 g m and a thin skin.

Comment! The separation of berries from the variety is semi-dry.

Self-fertile

Almost all varieties of felt cherries are self-fertile. This means that without pollinators, they will give a meager harvest. Many plant a Chinese bush, gorge on berries and consider the variety self-fertile. Let's take a little look at this issue. A bush 1.5 m tall should give an average yield of 7 kg. This means that it is simply covered with berries during full ripening.

Is this your harvest, or did the Chinese woman give away only the prescribed 4% of the possible? In order for the berries to be enough, you need to plant 2-3 varieties or a plum or apricot should grow at a distance of no more than 40 m. So the declared self-fertility of some varieties of felt cherries remains a big question. More often than others, such cultivars are considered not in need of pollination:

Eastern;
Children's;
Summer;
Dream;
Light;
Salute;
Morning.

In the northern regions, especially in the Far East, felt cherry can be an excellent alternative to ordinary cherry. In the southern regions, it will diversify the diet and make it possible to feed children with vitamins without coercion.

Testimonials

Angelina Sergeevna Loskutova, 41 years old, Yekaterinburg

When we brought Chinese cherries, our neighbors came to us as if on an excursion - they tasted the first berries, admired. Now it is in every yard. The seeds germinate where they fell, we no longer transfer the seedling carefully from hand to hand, but we fight unnecessary shoots. Every autumn I promise to destroy all the bushes, but spring comes, the cherries bloom - the beauty is such that the hand does not rise. Then the berries ripen. The children have already grown up, but still they just love to feast on red sweet fruits, and my husband and I are not far behind. Delicious. So Chinese cherries of an unknown variety grow, in the spring they are pleasing to the eye, in the summer - the stomach.

Victor Andreevich Serpukhov, 63 years old, Mytishchi

I have felt cherries Natalie and Alice. I am very pleased with the varieties, I do not understand why the Chinese woman is considered difficult to grow in the Moscow region. True, I originally planted it as recommended: I chose a hill, filled the planting pits with humus and ash. The first year the seedlings took root, in the second they bloomed and gave so many berries that the whole family ate enough. On the third, they were already treating neighbors and friends.

Felted cherry