4 named cultivars

fruit vegetable

Sweet Cherry

$162.95

The Story

Plant Bio

Prunus avium, sweet or wild cherry, is a deciduous tree from Europe, Afghanistan and North Africa, upright and columnar to conical in youth and broadening with age. Elliptical serrated leaves 1 to 3 in long carry two small red glands at the base of the blade. Distinct horizontal lenticels band the glossy reddish-brown bark.

Clusters of white five-petalled flowers 1 to 1.5 in across open with the leaves in spring, followed by fleshy yellow through red to purple-red fruit on long stems. Most cultivars need a compatible pollination partner. The bark's peeling horizontal bands make it recognisable in winter, and it hosts eastern tiger swallowtail larvae.

Uses & Benefits:

Clouds of white blossom in spring, glossy banded bark for winter interest and good yellow to red autumn colour.

Sweet dessert cherries eaten raw or cooked, and a fine close-grained timber used in furniture making.

A larval host for the eastern tiger swallowtail, with flowers feeding pollinators and fruit feeding birds.

Essentials

At a Glance

Plant Type

Fruit Vegetable

Height

360 inches

Width

300 inches

Light

Full Sun

Zones

5, 6, 7, 8

Water

Medium; even moisture with free drainage

Humidity

Prefers drier air; wet springs worsen canker

Lifespan

Moderate; 40 to 60 years in cultivation

Native To

Europe, western Asia and North Africa

Toxicity

Fruit is edible; leaves, bark and stones are toxic

Marketplace

Where to Buy

Fast Growing Trees

In Stock$162.95

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Planting

How to Grow

Choose a site in full sun with free-draining, fertile soil.
Select a rootstock sized to your space; standards make large trees.
Check the cultivar's pollination group and plant a partner if needed.
Plant while dormant, keeping the graft union above soil level.
Prune only in dry summer weather, never in winter.
Net ripening fruit if birds are taking the crop.

Pro Tip

Prune cherries in dry summer weather only; winter cuts invite silver leaf and bacterial canker into the open wounds.

Keep It Thriving

Care Guide

Do

Prune in dry weather between late spring and midsummer ✂️
Plant a compatible pollination partner unless the cultivar is self-fertile 🌸
Net trees as the fruit begins to colour 🐦
Keep the ground clear and mulched around young trees 🌿

Don't

Do not prune in winter or wet weather ❌
Do not eat the leaves, bark or crushed stones ❌
Do not plant in heavy, poorly drained ground ❌

Seasonal Care Calendar

Task	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Harvest And Netting
Summer Pruning

Watch Out For

Pests & Diseases

Common Pests

Common Diseases

In the Garden

Landscape Uses & Companions

Landscape Uses

Fruiting specimen tree in a garden orchardSpring blossom tree in a lawn or open borderWildlife and hedgerow tree at a woodland edge

Companion Plants

Comfrey Chives Daffodil Borage Clover

Multiply

Propagation Methods

Good to Know

Common Questions

Sweet Cherry questions

What zones can Sweet Cherry grow in?

Sweet Cherry is hardy in USDA Zones 5–8. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.

Is Sweet Cherry deer resistant?

Not reliably. Deer may browse Sweet Cherry, especially tender spring growth — plan on repellents or fencing where pressure is high.

When does Sweet Cherry bloom?

Sweet Cherry typically blooms in mid-spring, with the leaves through late spring. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.

Does Sweet Cherry need full sun?

Sweet Cherry does best in full sun (6+ hours).