Sour Cherry Prunus cerasus
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Prunus pendula
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus KER-uh-sus
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
This sour cherry tree is one of the first fruit trees to be used by humans. It is in the rose family and is native to SW Asia and Europe. The Latin genus name Prunus derives from the Greek proumnon, meaning “wild plum.”
This small tree will grow to 30 feet, with a broadly rounded crown. The 5 petaled white flowers grow in clusters and appear in late spring. Red drupes appear in summer and are often used to make tart cherry pies.
This tree will reseed and has spread beyond the garden areas. Suckers need to be removed to prevent thickets. Plant in full sun in fertile well-drained soils. It is much more cold hardy than sweet cherry trees and is self-pollinating.
Double flowering cultivars are used ornamentally and not for fruit production.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to many diseases and insects. Birds will eat the mature fruits so netting is needed to protect them
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Susanna Wesley Garden, Lake Junaluska
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dumosa'
Dwarf variety - 'Montmorency'
Dwarf variety - 'Persiciflora'
Double pink flowers - 'Rhexii'
Double white flowers - 'Semiplena'
Semi-double flowers. Occasionally fruits - var. austera L
Dark fruits and pendulous habit
- 'Dumosa'
- 'Dumosa', 'Montmorency', 'Persiciflora', 'Rhexii', 'Semiplena', var. austera L
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Dumosa'
Dwarf variety - 'Montmorency'
Dwarf variety - 'Persiciflora'
Double pink flowers - 'Rhexii'
Double white flowers - 'Semiplena'
Semi-double flowers. Occasionally fruits - var. austera L
Dark fruits and pendulous habit
- 'Dumosa'
- 'Dumosa', 'Montmorency', 'Persiciflora', 'Rhexii', 'Semiplena', var. austera L
- Tags:
-
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- cerasus
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Europe to SW Asia
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
- Edibility:
- Fruit is used both fresh and dried
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Rounded
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Drupe
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- Round red drupes with a center seed are sour to taste
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Cup
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- White 5-petaled flowers in groups of 3-5 in late spring
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Ovate to elliptic smooth green leaves with serrated margins are 2-5 inches long and sometimes have 2 glands at the base.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Peeling
- Bark Description:
- Gray-brown bark may peal and has prominent horizontal lenticels
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Bud Terminal:
- Cluster of terminal buds
- Stem Description:
- Gray-brown twigs with reddish buds and multiple terminal buds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- The pits contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If a couple of pits are accidentally swallowed, it will not cause poisoning. The pits are more poisonous if they are ground up/crushed or the seeds are chewed. Fruit that has not been pitted should not be blended into a smoothie. Symptoms include Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- cyanide
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
- Seeds
- Stems
