How to Grow and Care for Sweet cherry

Sweet cherry, also known as Wild cherry, Bird Cherry, Gean, Mazzard, Sakura

Sweet cherry are temperate fruit trees requiring specific care to ensure healthy growth and fruit production. Key care points include full sun exposure for at least 6 hours a day to maximize fruit development. Sweet cherry need well-drained soil with a deep watering regimen, especially during the growing season to establish an extensive root system. Special attention should be given to regular pruning for optimal air circulation and sunlight penetration, which is crucial for preventing disease and encouraging abundant fruit set.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

Toxic to Human & Pets

In This Article

Planting and Growing Sweet cherry

Toughness	High
Care Level	Low
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	5.5-7
Planting Time	Spring, Fall
Hardiness Zones	5-9
Toxicity	Toxic to Human & Pets

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Varieties of Sweet cherry

Sweet cherry 'Bing'

The sweet cherry 'Bing' tree offers bright green leaves, spectacular white flowers, and deep garnet-black fruits. It is a cultivar of Prunus avium, created in 1875 as a crossbred graft from the Black Republican cherry. The breeder was Seth Lewelling and he named it after his Manchurian foreman Ah Bing. Plant in full sun in well-drained soil in your fruit garden.

Sweet cherry 'Plena'

Sweet cherry 'Plena' is distinct for its many-petaled white flowers. A cultivar of Prunus avium, its name comes from the Latin word for “full,” referring to its abundant springtime bloom. Though a relative of the cherries we eat, this ornamental tree does not produce fruit but is instead prized for its showy white flowers and contrasting deep red bark.

Sweet cherry 'Rainier'

Sweet cherry 'Rainier' is a hybrid of two other sweet cherries introduced by Washington State University. Its yellow-red exterior and creamy-yellow flesh make it a unique and popular choice for culinary use. It is the most common sweet cherry grown in Washington state and is named after nearby Mount Rainier.

Common Pests & Diseases

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The Toxicity of Sweet cherry

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More General Info About Sweet cherry

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Sweet cherry is a deciduous tree characterized by its alternating, simple leaves with serrated edges and dual glands at the leaf base. The foliage radiates from the stem, forming a lush canopy. In bloom, sweet cherry showcases clusters of 1 to several white, 5-parted flowers, lending a delicate appearance. Post-pollination, these blossoms give way to succulent drupes, which may exhibit a yellow to red hue, each encasing a singular, sizable pit. Typically, when mature, sweet cherry can reach an impressive stature, becoming both an ornamental and fruit-bearing asset in diverse landscapes.