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Sweet cherry

How to identify Sweet cherry (Prunus avium)

Sweet cherry, also known as Japanese Cherry , Mazzard, Massard

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.

Lifespan

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Sweet cherry

1

Alternative leaves with serrated edges and glands at base.

2

Clusters of 5-parted white flowers in small rounded arrangements.

3

Succulent drupes with yellow to red hues and large pits.

4

Vibrant green leaves, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long with toothed margins.

5

Horizontal lenticels on grey bark with prominent ridges and furrows.

Sweet cherrySweet cherrySweet cherrySweet cherrySweet cherry

Detailed Traits of Sweet cherry

Leaf Features

The leaves of sweet cherry are ovate to elliptical, typically 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) long and 1.2-3 inches (3-7.5 cm) wide. They exhibit a toothed margin and possess two small red or green glands at the base of the blade. The petiole is grooved, and the leaves are usually a vibrant green on the upper surface, with a slightly paler underside. They have a smooth texture and a pronounced vein pattern that helps in identification.

Leaf Shape

Elliptic ,
Ovate ,
Obovate

Sweet cherry Leaf Shape image
Leaf Type

Simple

Leaf Base

Cuneate

Sweet cherry Leaf Base image
Leaf Arrangement

Alternate

Sweet cherry Leaf Arrangement image
Leaf Apex

Acuminate

Sweet cherry Leaf Apex image
Leaf Margin

Serrate

Sweet cherry Leaf Margin image
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Flower Features

The flowers of sweet cherry are arranged in small, rounded clusters, typically emerging with the leaves. Each flower has five distinct petals, and they span from 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) in diameter. These blossoms are often bright white, creating a striking visual contrast against the surrounding foliage. The flowers are known for their simple yet elegant beauty, making sweet cherry recognizable during its blooming period in the spring.

Sweet cherry Flower imageSweet cherry Flower image
Corolla Type

Rosaceous

Inflorescence Type

Fascicle

Sweet cherry Inflorescence Type image
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Fruit Features

The fruit of sweet cherry is a fleshy drupe, ranging in color from a bright yellow to rich red and even to a purple-red hue when ripe. It is characterized by its succulent texture and a single, large, hard pit (stone) encased within the juicy flesh. This stone, which is not edible, forms the core of the fruit. Surrounding the stone, the flesh is typically sweet and firm, often enjoyed fresh. Each fruit is attached to a long stem, which makes it easily distinguishable. On average, the fruit measures about 1 inch (2.5 cm) in diameter, although size can vary. Its smooth and glossy skin is another notable feature, enticing for both visual and gustatory senses.

Sweet cherry Fruit image
Fruit Type

Drupe

Learn About the Fruit Glossary
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Sweet cherry and Their Similar Plants

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Cherry plum vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) is a deciduous small tree or shrub native to Southern Europe and Western Asia. It is one of the most common wild fruits of its native region, producing numerous rounded, yellow, red, or burgundy-colored sweet juicy fruit in summer and autumn. Cherry plum is also used as an ornamental tree and as rootstock for other Prunus species.
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Black cherry vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a medium-sized, deciduous forest tree native to the Americas, but also naturalized in parts of Europe. It features inflorescence with small white blooms that become clusters of dark cherries, edible when pitted. Mature trees have gray-to-black, distinctly crackled bark. The glossy leaves are poisonous to livestock. It is a highly reproductive pioneer species with invasive potential.
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European plum vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Prunus domestica is a small deciduous tree and the most common orchard plum in Europe and other regions of the world. It is a hybrid species that had most likely evolved from the wild Cherry plum, Prunus cerasifera. The fruit is elongated, fleshy, and usually sweet. Dried fruits of european plum are called prunes.
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Peach vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Peach is native to Northwest China. China, Spain, and Italy are the top three producers of peaches world-wide. The peach is also the state fruit of Georgia. Peach production in the US in 2017 was valued at $599 million. The fruit has a yellow or white flesh, a sweet aroma, and a skin that is either velvety (peaches) or smooth (nectarines).
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Cherry laurel vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus) is an evergreen species of cherry, commonly cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is a shrub or a small tree with characteristic glossy, dark green leaves with a leathery texture. Leaves and seeds of cherry laurel contain toxic compounds, which can cause serious poisoning if ingested.
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Japanese cherry vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
The japanese cherry tradition, called Hanami, where people have picnics and outdoor parties under these trees, is a popular attraction. The excellent spring colors of the Prunus serrulata tree attract butterflies like the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. Its showy pink and white flowers are in full bloom in early to mid-spring, and some are fragrant.
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Common chokecherry vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Prunus virginiana, commonly known as common chokecherry, is a deciduous small tree or suckering shrub often confused with chokeberry, due to similarities in the looks of their fruits. The fruits of both species are known for their rich antioxidant content. Common chokecherry plays an important ecological role as a larval host for numerous moth species.
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Apricot vs. Sweet cherry: What's The Difference?
Apricot (Prunus armeniaca) is a fruit-bearing plant species native to Asia. Although the genus name, "Prunus," means plum, the fruits of this tree are actually apricots. The seeds are occasionally used as substitutes for almonds because they share a similar shape and nutty taste. The apricot has been cultivated by humans for centuries, and was even discovered in the remains of ancient Armenian settlements.
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Key Facts About Sweet cherry

Attributes of Sweet cherry
Lifespan
Perennial
Plant Type
Tree
Plant Height
6 m to 25 m
Spread
8 m
Leaf Color
Green
Orange
Red
Flower Size
2.5 cm
Flower Color
White
Fruit Color
Red
Purple
Black
Stem Color
Red
Green
Brown
Leaf type
Deciduous
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Scientific Classification of Sweet cherry

Family
Rose
Icon allow
Genus
Prunus
Icon allow
Species
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium)
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Distribution Map of Sweet cherry

Sweet cherry has a wide native range that covers northern Africa and Europe to central Asia. This plant prefers to grow in open woodland habitats. Sweet cherry has been cultivated widely but has been listed as invasive in a handful of states in the United States.
Native
Cultivated
Invasive
Potentially invasive
Exotic
No species reported
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