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cherry

Member profile details

PLANT PROFILE SHEET PDF

http://leafnetworkaz.org:80/resources/PLANT%20PROFILES/Cherry_profile.pdf

IDENTIFICATION

Common Name

cherry

Photo #1

Scientific Name

Prunus avium (L.) L.; Prunus cerasus L., Prunus salicifolia HBK

Family

Rosaceae

Spanish Name

cereza

Species Description

Erect, deciduous tree with smooth, glossy, peeling gray-brown bark. Leaves alternate, simple, oval, serrated margins. White flowers appear in clusters of 3-5 at the same time as new leaves. Dark red drupe fruit matures in early to mid summer, sweet to astringent. Single seed grooved along flat edge.

NATURAL / CULTURAL HISTORY

AZ Native or Introduced

Introduced to Arizona

Cultural-Historic Notes

Old World cherries (Prunus avium and P. cerasus) )originated in southwest Asia, including Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Syria. Prunus salicifolia, or 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 is extensively and abundantly naturalized.

GROWTH FORM & RATE

Growth Form

Tree

Tree or Understory

Tree

Other Growth Characteristics

Seasonally Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Canopy Diameter

15-30 feet

Tree Height

Sweet cherry 30-60 feet; sour cherry avg. 15 feet, capulin cherry 30+ feet

Lifespan

15-30+ years

Years to Bearing, if nursery tree is 1-2 years old; grafted

3-7 years

Chill Hours

400-1400 hours

Freeze Tolerance

Cold hardiness varies with the cultivar, but many cherries will receive winter injury below -20ºF. Capulin cherries tolerate temperatures to 19ºF.

Site, Micro-Climate, and Growing Considerations

Cherry blossoms are sensitive to spring frosts, and planting on elevated areas, including hills, knolls, and terraces above rivers can reduce spring frost damage.

Elevation Range

Capulin cherries grow naturally in subtropical to subtemperate regions at elevations of 4000-9000 ft.

Appropriate Arizona Elevation Categories

HIGH MOUNTAIN: Flagstaff - USDA Zone 6b (-5ºF-0ºF)
HIGH PLATEAU, MOUNTAIN: Prescott, Tuba City, Winslow, Page - USDA Zones 7a-7b (0ºF-10ºF)
HIGH DESERT: Sierra Vista, Kingman, Globe, Wilcox - USDA Zones 8a-8b (10-20ºF)
MID DESERT: Tucson, Ajo, Safford, Casa Grande - USDA Zones 9a-9b (20-30ºF)
LOW DESERT: Phoenix, Lake Havasu City, Yuma - USDA Zones 9b-10a (25-35ºF)

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

USDA Interactive Plant Zone Map for Arizona

WATER

Relative Plant Water Use

Medium: 20-35 inches / year

Post-Establishment Irrigation Needs

2 X Month in Growing Season

Notes on Species-Specific Water Needs

Cherries require adequate moisture and must be irrigated in arid regions.

CARE

Pollination

All cherries are insect pollinated. Sweet cherries require cross-pollination. Plant two or three cultivars to insure proper pollination. Sour cherries and capulin cherries are self-pollinated.

Soils

Cherries do best on well-drained loam and sandy loam soils with good water holding capacity and a pH of 5.5-7.5.

Propagation

Graft to propagate named cultivars on seedling or dwarfing rootstocks.

Pest & Disease Control

Pests and diseases may be controlled by planting disease resistant cultivars and using good orchard practices.

Pruning Notes

Cherry trees are pruned when young to form a central leader. Branches may be trained at 45º+ angles to the trunk to form the primary scaffolds that support fruit production.

HARVEST & PROCESSING

Edible Parts

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.

Harvest Months

May
June
July
August

Harvest and Processing Guide

Harvest and Processing Guide

LEAF is under the fiduciary stewardship of the Arizona Community Tree Council, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

PO Box 65122, Phoenix, Arizona 85082-5122

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY

This website and other LEAF Network products shown here was prepared under the Diverse Urban Forest grant, WCG 14-501, administered by the Arizona Community Tree Council. Funds for this project were provided by the Urban and Community Forestry Financial Assistance Program administered through Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management – Urban and Community Forestry Program and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service. In accordance with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability (Not all prohibited basis applies to all programs). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.