Easily one of the most beautiful blooming trees, cherries, both sweet and sour, have much more to offer than lovely blossoms. These attractive and productive trees make a great addition to any home garden, especially if grown on a dwarf root stock to limit their size.
Sweet cherries tend to grow larger and most varieties require a pollinator (make sure to select wisely, as not all trees will pollinate successfully). The standard trees grow up to 30 feet tall and do best in zones where winter hours are consistently below 45 degrees to develop flowers and fruit. Sweet cherries also perform better when protected from intense heat and cold.
Sour cherries are smaller, easier to grow, and self-fruitful (they also make great pollinators for sweet cherries). Not as tall as their sweet cousins, they tend to spread more laterally and max out at 12-15 feet tall. They are also more adaptable to varying climates and temperatures than sweet cherries. Most consumers usually eat sweet cherries fresh, and use sour cherries for cooking.
Location
Open site in full sun, with good air circulation. Cherries do best in landscape or garden locations and not in lawn, which needs different water and fertilizer.
Soil
Deep garden, loamy soil works best - well drained, not soggy. Avoid heavy clay or overly sandy soils.
Planting
See bare root and container planting guide
Water
To ensure steady fruit development from bloom to harvest, make sure to provide regular water throughout the growing season - usually a deep watering every 5-10 days depending on heat and sun exposure. As the fruit begins to ripen and approach harvest, cut back on watering to prevent fruit splitting.
Fertilizer
Use a balanced fertilizer in early spring with micronutrients to maintain consistent growth and fruit production. We recommend Anderson’s Best: That’s All It Takes, Fertilome Fruit, Nut and Citrus food, or Natural Guard Organic Fruit and Nut Fertilizer. A good rule of thumb is to use 1/2 to 1 pound of fertilizer per
inch of trunk diameter (2 cups generally equals 1 pound). Spread fertilizer evenly around the drip line of the tree.
Pruning
Once the trees have matured and have been trained into an open vase shape, they require minimal pruning each season. Each year remove any damaged or diseased branches. This can be done any time after harvest. Each spring, take out select amounts of old wood to encourage new wood development. Also, see our pruning guide for more pruning instructions for stone fruits.
Harvest & Yield
When harvesting, grasp the top of the cherry stem where it emerges from the spur, and twist gently. Avoid damaging the spur as it is the source for next year’s crop. Make sure to harvest cherries only after they are fully colored and completely ripe, as they don’t ripen after picking. Each tree will usually produce 20-60 pounds of fruit depending on location, fertilizer, variety and rootstock.
Pests
Aphids and Cherry Fruit Fly maggots consistently attack cherry trees each summer.
- Aphids: Use a dormant spray/fungicide combo during the late dormant season or even just as the buds start to swell in early spring.
- Cherry Fruit Fly: Spray the fruit with Spinosad, Malathion, or Sevin insecticide just as the first fruits start to show a blush of salmon color. Do this again 10 days later. You’ll be harvesting ripe cherries a week after that.
Blossom blight, shot-hole fungus, and brown rot are some of the most common diseases that affect cherries. Prevent disease by starting the season with a dormant spray/fungicide combination. Next, apply a general-purpose fungicide right after blossom drop. To prevent shot-hole fungus and blossom blight, continue to apply fungicide every 2 weeks during the cool, wet season of spring. It is essential to spray again in the fall, at about 25% leaf drop to stop these harmful diseases from permanently damaging your trees. For a good general-
purpose fungicide, we recommend Copper Soap (organic), F-Stop by Fertilome or Complete Disease Control from Monterey (organic).
Varieties
Bali
Evans Bali is much sweeter than other sour cherries. The fruits have a sour taste and a firm texture. The dark red fruit is approximately 1 inch in diameter and is excellent for baking and fresh eating. Excellent for pies and jams.
- Mature Height: 12'-15'
- Mature Spread: 12'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good for cooking. Stores well.
- Bloom Period: Mid-Spring
- Pollinator Required: No
- Harvest Period: July
- Zones: 3-8
Bing
Bings are the most famous and most common of the cherry trees. These cherries are great fresh and good for cooking. The skin of the cherry is smooth and glossy, and the flesh is firm, sweet, and juicy. It is a heavy producer of these large, heart-shaped cherries. These trees are rapid growers, and give you cherries quicker than most other cherry trees.
- Mature Height: 12'-20'
- Mature Spread: 10'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full/Partial
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good fresh and for cooking.
- Bloom Period: Mid-Spring
- Pollinator Required: Yes
- Harvest Period: June
- Zones: 5-8
Black Tartarian
The Tartarian is a black-purplish, sweet cherry. The flesh is dark red, juicy, very rich and delicious. This erect tree is a productive and vigorous grower. It is a highly productive and drought tolerant once established. They are low maintenance requiring little pruning.
- Mature Height: 12'-25'
- Mature Spread: 12'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good for processing
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: Yes, with other sweet cherries
- Harvest Period: End of May - June
- Zones: 5-8
Craig's Crimson
Late blooming helps ensure a bountiful early harvest of these dark red to almost black cherries beginning in June. Very firm fruit with taste test winning flavor. Self-fruitful. Growing smaller than standard cherries.
- Mature Height: 10'-15'
- Mature Spread: 8'-12'
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good fresh and for cooking
- Bloom Period: Late
- Pollinator Required: No
- Harvest Period: May - June
- Zones: 5-9
Early Richmond
These are red, juicy, tart cherries ideal for cooking. Sour cherries are richly flavored and firm of flesh so that they don’t go mushy during cooking. Use sour cherries for pies, cobblers, dessert sauces, preserves, and jams. Plant Early Richmond in full sun and well-drained soil. It is the first sour cherry available in the spring.
- Mature Height: 15'-20'
- Mature Spread: 10'-20'
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Flavor: Tart
- Cooking/storage: Good for cooking
- Bloom Period: Early
- Pollinator Required: No
- Harvest Period: May
- Zones: 4-8
Lambert
This is a heavy yielding tree with good quality fruit that rivals Bing. It is a late harvest cherry ripening two weeks after Bing. This is a hardy cherry tree that matures mid to late season. A superior cherry for out-of-hand eating as well as cooking.
- Mature Height: 15'-20'
- Mature Spread: 10'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full/Partial
- Flavor: Sweet with a slight tang
- Cooking/storage: Good fresh and for cooking
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: Yes
- Harvest Period: July
- Zones: 5-8
Lapins Sweet
Lapin is one of the largest and juiciest sweet cherry varieties with dark red to almost purple skin and sweet, juicy flesh. The cherries are also firm and crack resistant. Your Lapins cherries are good for fresh eating, drying, freezing, jam or jelly and even sauce. It is also self-fertile so a second tree is not needed making it ideal for smaller properties. Lapins crops heavily and tends to form tight fruit clusters. Similar to Bing.
- Mature Height: 10'-20'
- Mature Spread: 10'-20'
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good for both.
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: No
- Harvest Period: July
- Zones: 4-9
Montmorency
Montmorency cherry is a beautiful sour cherry or pie cherry. It is self-pollinating cherry that will also pollinate other nearby cherries. It is the most popular sour cherry in America. The medium large fruit is bright red with firm, yellow flesh and clear juice. It dependably bares heavy loads of cherries each year.
- Mature Height: 10'-25'
- Mature Spread: 10'-25'
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Flavor: Tart
- Cooking/storage: Cooking/canning
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: No
- Harvest Period: Early July
- Zones: 5a-8
Rainier
Rainiers are sweet cherries with a thin skin and thick creamy-yellow flesh and a red blush. These large cherries are one of the best and most popular in America. Even considered possibly the most superior of all the sweet cherries. It is a heavy producer so you’ll have plenty to go around.
- Mature Height: 10'-25'
- Mature Spread: 10'-25'
- Sun Exposure: Full
- Flavor: The sweetest
- Cooking/storage: Good for both.
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: Yes
- Harvest Period: Early July
- Zones: 4-8
Royalanne
The ‘Royal Ann’ (also called ‘Napoleon’ and ‘Queen Ann’) are used very much in commercial canning including making maraschino cherries, but are still fantastic for out-of-hand eating. These cherries are large and firm with excellent, sweet flavor and colorless juice. They are a beautiful, yellow cherry with a red blush. A favorite for colder climates.
- Mature Height: 10'-25'
- Mature Spread: 10'-20'
- Sun Exposure: Sun
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good for both.
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: Yes
- Harvest Period: July
- Zones: 4-8
Royal Rainier
Large, yellow cherry with slightly more red blush than Rainier. Birds are less attracted due to the yellow half. Cherries are large and sweet. Ripens early. Excellent for baking, canning, freezing, and eating out of hand.
- Mature Height: 12'-15'
- Mature Spread: 12'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good for cooking. Stores well.
- Bloom Period:
- Pollinator Required: Yes
- Harvest Period: mid-July
- Zones: 5-8
Skeena
This large, firm cherry has dark red to black skin and a sweet, dark flesh. It is a self-fertile tree that produces huge loads of luscious fruit year after year particularly with other cherries nearby for added pollination. Fruits are large and resistant to splitting.
- Mature Height: 12'-25'
- Mature Spread: 10'-20'
- Sun Exposure: Full Sun
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage: Good for both
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: No
- Harvest Period: End of July
- Zones: 5-9
Stella
Sets enormous crops without a pollinator! Fits any size yard. Bursts into fragrant bloom in early April. Similar to its parent, Lambert, Stella produces a tasty bounty of big, heart-shaped, red-dish-black cherries. Ripening in June and July. This is an excellent cherry for fresh eating and it resists cracking.
- Mature Height: 15'-20'
- Mature Spread: 10'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full/Partial
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/storage:
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: No. Self-fertile
- Harvest Period: June-July
- Zones: 5-8
Sweetheart
The Sweetheart cherry is a self-fertile tree with sweet, juicy, and crisp fruit that holds its firmness even after picking. It is the last of the cherries to ripen extending the cherry season as late as August. It is fantastic fresh, canned, or frozen.
- Mature Height:
- Mature Spread:
- Sun Exposure:
- Flavor:
- Cooking/Storage:
- Bloom Period: mid-April
- Pollinator Required:
- Harvest Period: mid-July
- Zones: 4-8
Van
The Van cherry is very hardy. Resembles Bing cherries because the fruit is similar to Bing, though usually smaller. Van is one of the best pollinators for any other sweet cherry tree. The Van cherry tree is strong, vigorous and a prolific bearer of high quality sweet cherries. The skin is a deep red with a sweet, tasty flesh.
- Mature Height: 12'-20'
- Mature Spread: 10'-15'
- Sun Exposure: Full/Partial
- Flavor: Sweet
- Cooking/Storage: Good for cooking/processing.
- Bloom Period: April
- Pollinator Required: yes
- Harvest Period: Early June
- Zones: 5a-8