Cherry tree
Prunus avium · Rosaceae
📷 MPF · CC BY 2.5
⚠️ Feuilles, tiges et noyaux ou graines mâchés contiennent des glycosides cyanogènes ; le risque dépend de la partie et de la quantité ingérées. Pour les espèces fruitières, la chair mûre dénoyautée est généralement sans danger.
The gardener's calendar
In autumn, ease off feeding and take the chance to clean up around cherry tree and prepare for winter.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Flowering
- April, white to pink flowers
- Adult size
- 8 m tall, 6 to 8 m wide
- Growth
- Fast to moderate
- Hardiness
- Very hardy, down to -25°C
- Origin
- Asia Minor and Europe
- Soil type
- Well-drained, fertile, neutral to slightly alkaline
- Fruits
- Edible cherries in June-July
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Cherry trees love deep, well-drained soil and a sunny spot; avoid heavy pruning.
The common mistake
Pruning in winter or spring causes gumming and weakens the tree.
The pro's trick
Prune only after harvest, in dry weather, to remove dead wood or crossing branches.
Care
Sunlight
Your cherry tree absolutely needs full sun for optimal fruiting and generous flowering. Plant it in an open spot, sheltered from strong winds that could damage branches laden with fruit. At least 6 to 8 hours of daily sunlight are necessary.
Watering
Water regularly during the first year after planting to promote root establishment. Once established, the cherry tree is moderately demanding: keep the soil slightly moist during dry periods, especially when fruits are forming. In normal conditions, natural rainfall is usually sufficient.
Pruning and structure
Prune your cherry tree in late summer or early autumn to avoid sap bleeding. Remove dead, crossing, or poorly oriented branches to open up the crown. Limiting height is possible but weakens the tree: prefer natural training. Maintain balanced structure.
Fertilizing
An annual application of well-decomposed compost in autumn naturally enriches the soil. Avoid excess nitrogen which promotes foliage at the expense of fruit. A potassium application in spring can improve cherry quality.
Soil
Your cherry tree prefers well-drained, fertile soil. A neutral to slightly alkaline pH is ideal. Loosen the soil when planting and incorporate compost. Mulch around the base to maintain moisture and reduce weeds.
Diseases and pests
The cherry tree can be affected by cherry fruit fly, scab, or fruit rot. Promote air circulation through good pruning. If attacked, intervene quickly with suitable organic treatments. Good maintenance strengthens the tree's resistance.
Did you know?
The wild cherry (Prunus avium) is the ancestor of all cultivated sweet cherries and sour cherries in Europe. In Asia, cherry blossoms (sakura) have been celebrated for millennia and symbolize ephemeral beauty, while in medieval Europe, cherry wood was so prized that it was used to make luxury objects and fine furniture.
Where to buy it
Best planted in autumn so the roots settle in before summer, or in early spring once the frost has passed. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, October, November.
Add this plant to my garden →Plants from the same family
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- BrambleRubus fruticosus
- Cherry laurelPrunus laurocerasus
Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.