Cherry Prunus avium L.; Prunus cerasus L.; Prunus salicifolia HBK Rosaceae
Species description Cherry trees are erect and deciduous with smooth, glossy, peeling gray-brown bark. Leaves are dark green, alternate, simple, and oval, with serrated margins. Clusters of 3-5 white flowers appear in spring at the same time as new leaves. Dark red drupe fruit matures in early to mid summer, with a flavor that ranges from sweet to astringent depending on the cultivar and species. The single interior seed, or pit, is grooved along the flat edge. Cherry trees require 400-1400 chill hours for fruit set. Cold hardiness varies depending upon the cultivar, but many will receive winter injury at temperatures below -20ºF. Sweet cherry trees (Prunus cerasus) grow to 30-60 feet tall; capulin cherry trees (P. salicifolia) will reach heights of over 40-50 feet; while sour cherry trees (P. avium) average 15 feet tall. The trees live for 15-30 or more years.
Natural and cultural history Sweet cherries originated in southwest Asia, in areas that are now Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. Cherry pits have been found in caves dating back to 4,000-5,000 BCE. The first documented evidence of cherry cultivation dates to 300 BCE in Greece. Numerous landrace varieties were grown across Europe, mostly through seedling plantings, with little evidence of grafting before the late 18th century. Sour cherries are believed to be a hybrid between sweet cherries and ground cherry (P. fruiticosa), a low growing bush cherry native to Russia. Cherry production is limited to temperate regions with sufficient winter chill hours. Sweet cherries are more widely planted in Western Europe, while sour cherries are more common in Eastern Europe. Cultivars of both are now grown around the world. Capulin cherry is native to central Mexico. Capulin cherry has been cultivated since early times in Mexico, Central America, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia, and has extensively and abundantly naturalized in these areas.
Planting considerations and propagation techniques Cherry blossoms are sensitive to spring freezing events and careful site selection, such as planting in elevated areas, including hills, knolls, and terraces above rivers can reduce spring frost damage. Cherries do best on well-drained loam and sandy loam soils with good water holding capacity and a pH of 5.5-7.5. All cherries are insect pollinated. Sweet cherries require cross-pollination, and two or three cultivars should be planted to ensure proper pollination. Sour cherries are self-pollinated.
Cherry pests and diseases may be controlled by planting disease-resistant cultivars and through good orchard practices as well as more direct treatment. Common diseases include American brown rot, Bacterial canker, cherry leaf spot, European brown rot, oak root rot, powdery mildew, and Phytophthora root and crown rot. Cherry trees do not produce true from seed, though many landrace cherries were traditionally grown from seed. Grafting, which has become standard practice now, was not widely practiced until the development of improved varieties. Cultivars are often grafted onto seedling or dwarfing rootstock.
Water needs Cherries require consistent moisture and must be irrigated in arid regions, especially during the growing season.
Care Cherry trees are usually pruned when young to form a central leader. The limbs are trained at an angle to the main trunk to form the primary scaffolds that support fruit production. Light fertilization with compost will improve fruit set.
Harvesting and processing Cherries are eaten fresh, dried, cooked, or processed into juice, pastries, pies, and preserves. Color intensity is often used as an indication of ripeness. In Mexico, capulin cherries are used as filling for special tamales, or pitted, skinned and served with milk, vanilla and cinnamon.
References and resources Brown, S.K., A.F. Iezzoni, and H.W. Fogle. 1996. Cherries, pp. 213-255. In: Fruit Breeding, Volume I Tree and Tropical Fruits. Eds. J. Janick and J.N. Moore. John Wiley & Sons. New York California Rare Fruit Growers. 1997. Capulin cherry. https://www.crfg.org/pubs/ff/capulin-cherry.html Gardening in Tucson, Phoenix, and Southern California. n.d. Growing Sweet Cherries: Prunus avium. http://gardenoracle.com/images/prunus_avium.html./ Iezzoni, A. 2008. Prunus avium, sweet cherry, Prunus cerasus, sour/tart cherry. pp. 138-151. Eds. Janick, J. and R.E. Paull. The Encyclopedia of Fruit and Nuts. CABI Publishing, Cambridge, MA. Lerner, B.R. and P. Hirst. 2002. Pollination of Fruits and Nuts. Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service, West Lafayette, IN Morton, J. 1987. Capulin. p. 108–109. In: Fruits of warm climates. Julia F. Morton. Miami, FL. https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/capulin.html Plants for a Future (FFAF). n.d. Prunus avium – L. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+avium Vavilov, N.I. 1951. The Origin, Variation, Immunity, and Breeding of Cultivated Plants. Ronald, New York.
2