Sweet cherry Prunus avium
Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is a deciduous perennial fruit plant in the Rosaceae family, native to Europe, western Asia and North Africa. It grows 6–10 m (20–33 ft) tall and 5–8 m (16–26 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about -29 °C (-20 °F). Space plants about 7 m (23 ft) apart.
Plan Sweet cherry in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sweet cherry at a glance
| Type | Perennial fruit plant, deciduous |
|---|---|
| Family | Rosaceae |
| Mature height | 6–10 m (20–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 5–8 m (16–26 ft) |
| Spacing | 7 m (23 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 6–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About -29 °C (-20 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °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 | Europe, western Asia and North Africa |
| Common in gardens of | 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇨🇱 Chile |
Is Sweet 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 Sweet 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 Sour 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
- Xylella fastidiosa: Insect-spread bacterium (EU quarantine pest) hitting olive, lavender, rosemary, oleander, Prunus and citrus. Evidence B
Questions about Sweet cherry
- How far apart should I plant Sweet cherry?
- About 7 m (23 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 5–8 m (16–26 ft).
- Does Sweet cherry need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sweet cherry need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Sweet cherry?
- It tolerates about -29 °C (-20 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
- When does Sweet cherry flower?
- From about April for 1–2 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
- Is Sweet 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 Sweet 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
- UC IPM degree-day models and pest notes, University of California
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
Notes and assumptions
- Most cultivars are not self-fertile and need a compatible partner (self-fertile types such as Stella exist); chill about 700-1200 hours; fruit splits in rain near ripening.
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