Southernwood is propagated by cuttings. Collect new wood in the fall, store in damp sand over-winter, and plant in the spring. Nanking cherry is a dense, compact shrub with edible fruit. The leaves are dark, brownish-green, harsh and somewhat tomentosa. The twigs are a dark brown, shading to a dark purple on the main trunk.
Leaves are alternate, numerous and form a dense, compact crown.
The leaves break dormancy early, are retained even in drought, and are slow to drop after the first killing frost. The fruit is a small, very short-stemmed light red cherry with a distinctive wild, sweet taste. It is excellent for jellies, jams and pies. The seed is rather difficult to separate from the pulp. Fruit production is abundant in early July unless a late frost has damaged the blossoms.