Can bush cherries be grown in Iowa?

Question:

Can bush cherries be grown in Iowa?

Answer:

Bush cherries are very cold hardy and can be grown throughout Iowa.  Bush cherries include:

• Nanking cherry (Prunus tomentosa)
• Hansen’s bush cherry (Prunus besseyi ‘Hansen’s)
• and several cherry hybrids.

Their fruit can be used in pies, jellies, and jams.  The white flowering shrubs also make good ornamentals.  Plants can be placed in mixed shrub borders or grown as hedges.  Their basic requirements are full sun and a well-drained soil.