Two outstanding flowering small trees – Ming cherry and Muckle plum Story and photos by Wilbert Ronald
‘Ming’ cherry.
S
ome plants arise from years of dedicated cross breeding, selection and testing but others have come from unexpected sources. The two plants we are writing about both arose in unusual ways. Some breeders might call a new plant a “chance” seedling if it arose like the singular distinct ‘Ming’ cherry. In the case of the ‘Muckle’ plum, it appears to have arisen as the only seedling from a controlled cross or natural hybridization between two nearby plum species in the garden of the originator. Both 22 • 2020
‘Muckle’ plum.
the ‘Ming’ cherry and the ‘Muckle’ plum are therefore one-of-a-kind plants that really are garden gems. ‘Ming’ cherry ‘Ming’ originated in the fruit program at the University of Saskatchewan as an off-type seedling in the sour cherry program. It has been commercialized for close to 15 years and has shown potential as a small specimen tree. ‘Ming’ can be most usefully compared to the Amur cherry, of which it appears to be a hybrid. The second parent is presumed to be a Issue 4
sour cherry hybrid (Prunus fruticosa). ‘Ming’ has several outstanding traits which have been recognized and led to grower interest and a recent surge of landscape interest. • The trunk is sturdy and straight and has no winter bark splitting, which is seen in Amur cherry. • The branching form and branch sturdiness is noteworthy. • Dark green foliage and only a few small fruits mean the tree does not become messy or weedy. • White flowers appear in early localgardener.net
