Cherry

Tree facts

Scientific name

Prunus avium

Origin

Europe and western Asia

Tree size

Sweet cherries 20–35 ft, or 10–15 ft on dwarfing rootstock; tart cherries 10–20 ft

Growth rate

Medium

Sun

Full sun

Soil

Deep, very well-drained soil. Cherries get root rot in heavy or wet ground.

Soil pH

6.0–7.0

Pollination

Most sweet cherries need a compatible second cultivar; tart cherries and some sweet ones (Stella, Lapins, Royal Crimson) are self-fertile

Cold hardiness

Dormant sweet cherries take about -20°F, tart cherries even colder; blossoms are killed near 28°F

USDA zones

Sweet 5–8; tart 4–7; low-chill sweet types into 9 in dry climates

Years to first fruit

3–5 (tart cherries 2–4)

Season

May–Jul

Water

About every 10 days once established, without rain; more in heat, in pots and while young

Feeding

About every 120 days, Mar–May

Pruning

Feb–Mar

Taste

Sweet cherries are sweet, juicy and rich; tart cherries are bright and sour, best cooked

Nutrition

Vitamin C, potassium and anthocyanins (the red pigments)

Is cherry safe to eat? Edible and toxic parts

What you can eat

• Ripe fruit, raw or cooked
• Tart cherries, cooked, dried or juiced

Toxic parts and cautions

• Toxic: Wilted leaves, such as on storm-broken branches or fresh prunings, release cyanide and can kill horses, cattle, goats and sheep. Clean up fallen branches anywhere livestock graze.
• Take care: Cherry pits, leaves and stems contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when crushed or chewed. Swallowing a pit by accident is harmless, but don't crack or grind pits.
• Good to know: Whole cherries with pits are a choking risk for small children. Pit and halve them.

Pets: Pits, stems and leaves are toxic to dogs, cats and especially horses and cattle. A few pitted cherries are fine for a dog.

How to eat and enjoy cherry

• Fresh, by the handful
• Cherry pie and cobbler, with tart cherries
• Clafoutis (France)
• Black Forest cake (Germany)
• Preserves, dried cherries and tart cherry juice

Cherry varieties (10)

• Bing

  The classic deep red sweet cherry, named for the orchard foreman Ah Bing.

  Origin: Oregon, 1875 · Taste: Sweet, rich, firm · Season: Jun–Jul · Size: Large

  Needs a pollinizer such as Black Tartarian or Van, and about 700 chill hours. Cracks in rain.

• Black Tartarian

  An old, early, very dark sweet cherry with soft, juicy flesh.

  Origin: Russia; brought to England around 1800 · Taste: Sweet, juicy · Season: Jun · Size: Medium

  A widely compatible pollinizer for other sweet cherries.

• Lapins

  A dark red, self-fertile sweet cherry, a Van × Stella cross, with quality close to Bing.

  Origin: Canada (British Columbia), 1980s · Taste: Sweet, rich · Season: Jun–Jul · Size: Large

  Self-fertile and a good pollinizer. Lower chill than Bing; often listed at about 400 hours.

• Minnie Royal

  A low-chill, dark red sweet cherry bred for mild-winter areas.

  Origin: California (Zaiger Genetics) · Taste: Sweet, rich · Season: May–Jun · Size: Medium

  Low chill, usually listed at 400 hours or less. Plant with Royal Lee; they pollinate each other.

• Montmorency

  The standard tart cherry: bright red, sour and juicy, the main cherry for pies and dried tart cherries.

  Origin: France (Montmorency valley) · Taste: Tart · Season: Jun–Jul · Size: Medium

  Self-fertile and very cold-hardy. Needs roughly 700 or more chill hours.

• North Star

  A naturally dwarf tart cherry with dark red flesh.

  Origin: Minnesota, 1950 · Taste: Tart · Season: Jun–Jul · Size: Small to medium

  Self-fertile; good for small yards in cold climates.

• Rainier

  A yellow cherry with a red blush and very sweet, pale flesh, a Bing × Van cross.

  Origin: Washington State, 1952 · Taste: Very sweet, delicate · Season: Jun–Jul · Size: Large

  Needs a pollinizer and about 700 chill hours.

• Royal Crimson

  A low-chill, self-fertile sweet cherry on a naturally compact tree.

  Origin: California (Zaiger Genetics) · Taste: Sweet · Season: May–Jun · Size: Medium

  Self-fertile; about 400 chill hours.

• Royal Lee

  A low-chill, firm, red sweet cherry, the partner to Minnie Royal.

  Origin: California (Zaiger Genetics) · Taste: Sweet, firm · Season: May–Jun · Size: Medium to large

  Low chill, usually listed at 400 hours or less. Needs Minnie Royal for pollination.

• Stella

  The first self-fertile sweet cherry, large and dark red.

  Origin: Canada (British Columbia), 1968 · Taste: Sweet · Season: Jun–Jul · Size: Large

  Self-fertile and pollinates most other sweet cherries.

Pests and diseases to watch for

• Powdery mildew

  White powdery coating on flower stalks, young leaves and tiny fruit; flowers dry up and fall.

  What to do: Sulfur or potassium bicarbonate spray at the first white patches.

• Phytophthora root rot

  Small, pale, wilting leaves, thin canopy and branch dieback; roots are black and brittle instead of white.

  What to do: Water less and improve drainage.

• Brown rot

  Soft brown spots on ripening fruit that spread fast and grow gray-tan spores; dried 'mummies' hang on the tree.

  What to do: Remove mummies and rotten fruit.

• Scale insects

  Small bumps, waxy or shell-like, on stems and leaf veins; sticky honeydew and black sooty mold below.

  What to do: Scrub small colonies off with a soft brush.

• Mealybugs

  White cottony clusters in leaf joints, under leaves and on fruit stems; honeydew and sooty mold.

  What to do: Blast off with a strong spray of water.

• Aphids

  Clusters of tiny soft insects on new shoots; leaves curl and get sticky.

  What to do: Spray off with water.