Prunus tomentosa (Nanking Cherry)

Fragrant white spring flowers, shiny reddish-brown bark, and edible scarlet fruit make the Nanking cherry a favorite for mass plantings and borders. This is a vigorous, adaptable shrub particularly suited to the cold winters and hot summers of the central and northern plains of the United States and Canada. And the dense branching pattern means the shrub is also well-suited for use as a windbreak filler, hedge, or wildlife habitat.
 
The tart, tangy fruit ripen in mid- to late summer and can be eaten fresh or used in pies, jams, and jellies.