Another plum (?) - "Japanese cherry?" - question.

[Vanisle_BC]

There is a big tree on our property that was already old when we moved in 25 years ago. I've been told it's a Japanese Cherry. It has coppery-red leaves. Many years ago it produced a good crop of small - cherry sized - dark red fruit that was very tasty. Since then it has borne no fruit. It puts up sky-seeking "suckers" from its branches and each year I vainly try to remove them all (getting too old for the climbing- especially if I'm being watched ).

Does it sound as though there's anything I can do to rejuvenate this tree?

[JONA]

Hi Vanisle
There are many, many varieties of Japenese Cherry and Cherry Plums.
To get them to crop regularly they do do need some form of growth control.
But.....it can be difficult to get a large prunus tree down to sensible heights.
They are prone to cankers ...both bacterial and fungal.. and need careful cutting and painting to keep these at bay.
Is there someone in your local garden club who could help?
You will have to keep those strong uprights under control anyway, as they will rapidly reach for the sky. It's the nature of all prunus to do this.

[tomc]

Sounds like it needs a pollinator.