Sour cherry Prunus cerasus
Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) is a deciduous perennial fruit plant in the Rosaceae family, native to Southwest Asia and southeast Europe. It grows 3–5 m (10–16 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -34 °C (-29 °F). Space plants about 4 m (13 ft) apart.
Plan Sour cherry in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sour cherry at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Mature height | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 4 m (13 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance low |
| Soil pH | 6–7 |
| Cold hardiness | About -34 °C (-29 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 33 °C (91 °F) |
| Flowering | from about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones) |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | High |
| Edible | Yes: fruit |
| Native to | Southwest Asia and southeast Europe |
| Common in gardens of | 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇮🇷 Iran, 🇵🇱 Poland |
Is Sour cherry toxic?
- People: moderately toxic
- Cats: moderately toxic
- Dogs: moderately toxic
- Parts: pits, leaves, stems
Leaves, bark and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin) that can release cyanide if chewed in quantity. The ripe flesh is safe.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Sour cherry
Good neighbours
- good With Garlic chives: Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal. Evidence D
Keep apart or take care
- caution With Sweet cherry: Sweet and sour cherries share brown rot, bacterial canker and cherry leaf spot, so they can reinfect each other. Evidence B
Shared pests and diseases
- Brown rot: Monilinia brown rot moves between cherries, plums, peaches and apricots. Evidence B
Questions about Sour cherry
- How far apart should I plant Sour cherry?
- About 4 m (13 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Sour cherry need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sour cherry need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance low.
- How cold-hardy is Sour cherry?
- It tolerates about -34 °C (-29 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
- When does Sour cherry flower?
- From about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Sour cherry poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is moderately toxic; for dogs moderately toxic; for people moderately toxic. Leaves, bark and pits contain cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin) that can release cyanide if chewed in quantity. The ripe flesh is safe.
- What grows well with Sour cherry?
- Gardeners plant garlic chives among roses to deter aphids and black spot; the evidence is weak and mostly anecdotal.
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
- Fruit & Nut Research and Information Center: chilling requirements by species and cultivar, University of California, Davis
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
Notes and assumptions
- Self-fertile cultivars such as Montmorency; chill about 800-1200 hours.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Strawberry Fragaria x ananassa
- Dwarf apple tree Malus domestica
- Common ninebark Physocarpus opulifolius
- Serviceberry Amelanchier canadensis
- Raspberry Rubus idaeus
- Blackberry Rubus fruticosus agg.
- Garden rose Rosa x hybrida
- Japanese flowering cherry Prunus serrulata