Do I need two trees for fruit?

Most sweet cherry varieties require a different cultivar nearby for cross pollination.

How long until it fruits?

Trees typically begin producing fruit within 4 to 7 years.

Plant guide

Sweet Cherry.

Prunus avium (L.) L.

Pronounced PROO-nus AH-vee-um

Also known as Bird Cherry, Gean, Gean Cherry, Gean, Wild Cherry

The sweet cherry is a beautiful deciduous tree that produces delicious fruit in the summer. It thrives in temperate climates and is often grown for its lovely spring blossoms. You will enjoy its rapid growth and seasonal changes throughout the year.

At a glance

Care level: Moderate
Plant type: Deciduous fruit tree
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 14 days
Mature size: 30 to 40 feet
Growth rate: Fast
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 8
Bloom time: Mid to late spring

Care

Plant in a sunny spot with well draining soil to keep the roots healthy. Watch for signs of pests like aphids or fungal issues on the leaves. Regular monitoring helps ensure a bountiful harvest.

Watering: Water deeply during dry spells to support fruit development.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins.
Pruning: Prune in late winter while the tree is dormant to shape the canopy.
Repotting: Repotting is generally only necessary for young trees or those kept in containers.
Soil: Loamy, well drained soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -28 to 35°C
Humidity: 40 to 70%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically 20 to 50 years
Fragrance: Light
Deer and rabbits: Low

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
Water running straight through the soil without soaking in.

Safety

People: The leaves and pits contain compounds that can release cyanide if ingested in large quantities.
Pets: The leaves and stems contain cyanogenic glycosides which are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
Children: The pits pose a choking hazard to small children.
Contact allergens: Contact with the bark or leaves is generally safe for most people.
Airborne allergens: Pollen can be a mild respiratory irritant during the spring bloom.
Edibility: Cherry pits contain cyanogenic glycosides and should not be consumed.

How to identify it

Glossy dark green serrated leaves
Clusters of white five petaled flowers
Smooth reddish brown bark with lenticels
Round fleshy drupe fruit

Height: 6 to 12m
Spread: 4 to 8m
Leaves: green, yellow, red, deciduous
Flowers: white, 2 to 3cm
Fruit: red, dark red, black, Early to mid summer

Problems to watch for

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: grafting, seed, cuttings
When to plant: early spring, late autumn
Overwintering: Ensure the tree is well watered before the ground freezes. Apply a layer of mulch around the base to protect the roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
In containers: Dwarf varieties can grow in large containers, but they are generally better suited for open ground.

Grafting

Select a healthy rootstock.
Make a clean cut on both scion and rootstock.
Join the two pieces and secure with grafting tape.
Seal the union with wax.

Planting aromatic herbs beneath the canopy can help mask the scent of the tree from some pests.

Grows well with

Garlic — It may help deter certain pests.
Chives — These act as a beneficial ground cover that suppresses weeds.

Similar species

Sour Cherry — It is a smaller tree with more acidic fruit.
Bird Cherry — It has racemes of flowers rather than clusters.

Science

Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Prunus
Order: Rosales
Class: Magnoliopsida
Native range: Europe, western Asia, and parts of North Africa.
Conservation: Not of conservation concern as it is widely cultivated and naturalized.

It thrives in well drained soils and often colonizes forest edges where birds drop seeds.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, food for birds
Pollinators: bees
Uses: culinary fruit, ornamental tree, timber

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 1/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9
Light: 7/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

Do I need two trees for fruit?: Most sweet cherry varieties require a different cultivar nearby for cross pollination.
How long until it fruits?: Trees typically begin producing fruit within 4 to 7 years.

Where the name comes from

The name Prunus is the classical Latin name for the plum tree, while avium refers to birds, which love to eat the fruit.

Good to know

Sweet cherries are members of the rose family.
The wood is highly prized for fine furniture making.
Birds are the primary seed dispersers in the wild.

Also in

Plants toxic to cats and dogs

Keep your sweet cherry growing

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.