So you want to plant a cherry tree? That's awesome. But hold up – did you know there are over 1,000 cherry tree varieties out there? Yeah, it's not just about grabbing any sapling from the nursery. I learned this the hard way when my first cherry tree turned out to be purely ornamental. Three years waiting for fruit that never came. Ouch.
Choosing the right cherry tree varieties makes all the difference between buckets of juicy cherries and years of disappointment. It's not just about sweet vs sour cherries either. We're talking climate adaptability, pollination needs, disease resistance... and that's before considering whether you've got space for a 30-foot giant or just room for a patio dwarf.
Ornamental vs Fruiting Cherry Tree Varieties
My neighbor Tom has this stunning Japanese cherry that explodes in pink blooms every spring. But when I asked how his harvest was last year? He just laughed. "These don't make fruit, mate." Big surprise – he'd bought purely ornamental cherry tree varieties without realizing.
Flowering Cherries (Sakura)
These are the showstoppers. Japan's famous sakura trees fall here. But let's be real – unless you're running a botanical garden, most homeowners want both beauty AND fruit. Still, if you're set on ornamentals:
| Variety | Bloom Color | Height | Best For | Downsides |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kwanzan | Double pink | 25-30 ft | Dramatic spring displays | Short bloom period (10 days) |
| Yoshino | White-pink | 40-50 ft | Large landscapes | Massive size, no fruit |
| Weeping Higan | Pale pink | 20-30 ft | Focal points | Needs careful pruning |
Here's the thing though – unless you're planting a cherry blossom avenue, fruiting varieties give you both flowers AND dessert. Why settle for one?
Fruiting Cherry Tree Varieties
This is where it gets exciting. We break them into two camps: sweet cherries (Prunus avium) for fresh eating, and sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) for cooking. But there's way more nuance than that.
Take Bing cherries – the classic supermarket variety. Great flavor, sure. But when I planted one? Turns out it needs another compatible pollinator nearby. My tiny backyard wasn't big enough for two full-sized trees. Total rookie mistake.
Sweet Cherry Varieties Breakdown
Sweet cherries are what most people dream of growing. But choosing among cherry tree varieties requires matching them to your reality. Here's the real scoop:
| Variety | Pollination | Chill Hours | Zones | Flavor Profile | Price Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bing | Needs partner | 700+ | 5-8 | Classic deep sweetness | $40-$60 |
| Stella | Self-fertile | 400 | 5-9 | Rich, wine-like | $45-$65 |
| Rainier | Needs partner | 700 | 5-8 | Honey-sweet, delicate | $50-$75 |
| Lapins | Self-fertile | 500 | 5-9 | Balanced sweet-tart | $45-$70 |
Notice the price differences? That's not random. Rainiers cost more because they bruise easily and birds devour them – growers lose half their crop without netting. Meanwhile, my Lapins tree? That thing's a tank. Survived -20°F winter and still fruited.
Personal Favorite: For most home growers, I push Lapins cherry tree varieties. Why? Self-pollinating, tough as nails, and bears young. My five-year-old tree gave 40 pounds last summer. Only downside? The cherries don't ship well – which is exactly why stores rarely carry them. More for you!
Dwarf Sweet Cherry Options
Small space? Go dwarf. Modern cherry tree varieties grafted onto Gisela rootstocks changed everything. My 'Chelan' on Gisela 5 stays under 8 feet tall in a wine barrel:
- Stella Compact - Same great flavor in half the size (6-10 ft)
- Compact Lambert - Heavy producer, great for containers ($55-$80)
- Garden Bing - Dwarf version of classic, needs pollinator partner
Pro tip: Dwarf cherry tree varieties cost 20-30% more initially but save you in ladder accidents later.
Sour Cherry Varieties Worth Growing
Don't overlook sour cherries! They're easier to grow, more cold-hardy, and make killer pies. Most are self-fertile too – one tree does it all.
The Montmorency is America's workhorse sour cherry. But after tasting a friend's Morello? I'm converting. Deeper flavor, darker juice, and way more complex in preserves.
| Variety | Best Use | Harvest Time | Disease Resistance | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montmorency | Pies, juicing | Late June | Good | Heavy annual yields |
| Morello | Preserves, liqueurs | Mid-July | Excellent | Compact growth habit |
| North Star | Small gardens | Early July | Very good | Natural dwarf (8 ft) |
Fun fact: Sour cherry tree varieties pack more antioxidants than sweets. Health bonus!
I made a mistake with my first Montmorency – planted it where spring frosts hit. Lost blossoms two years straight. Now I put them on north slopes where they bloom later. Lesson learned: microclimate matters more than zone maps.
Regional Cherry Tree Variety Recommendations
What grows well in California fails miserably in Maine. Trust me, I've killed cherries both ways.
Cold Climate Cherry Tree Varieties (Zones 4-5)
- Evans Bali - Survives -40°F, self-fertile, tart fruit
- Meteor - Sour cherry bred for Minnesota winters
- Carmine Jewel - Bush-type cherry, zone 3 hardy
Warm Climate Cherry Tree Varieties (Zones 9-10)
- Minnie Royal - Low-chill sweet cherry (300 hours)
- Royal Lee - Needs Minnie Royal as pollinator partner
- Stella - Surprisingly adaptable to warmer zones
Funny story: A Florida gardener once asked me "Can I grow cherry tree varieties here?" Nearly said no – then remembered these low-chill hybrids. They're not Bing-level amazing but beat no cherries at all.
Pollination Secrets They Don't Tell You
This trips up more growers than anything. Many cherry tree varieties need a compatible partner blooming at the same time. No partner? No fruit. Period.
Pollination Cheat Sheet:
- Bing + Rainier = Good match
- Bing + Stella = No go (bloom times mismatch)
- Lapins + Stella = Works great
- Most sours = Self-fertile (no partner needed)
Urban gardeners listen up: That neighbor's cherry tree might pollinate yours! I've seen trees 100 feet apart cross-pollinate successfully.
Disease Resistant Cherry Tree Varieties
Nothing's sadder than seeing brown rot destroy your crop weeks before harvest. Some varieties resist better:
- Crimson Passion - Highly resistant to cracking and rot
- Romeo - Bush cherry ignores most diseases
- Glacier - Sweet cherry with strong fungal resistance
My Stella gets brown rot every humid summer. Now I spray proactively – but if starting over, I'd choose Crimson Passion cherry tree varieties instead.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cherry Tree Varieties
What's the fastest-bearing cherry variety?
Dwarf Stellas often fruit in year 2. Standard trees take 4-7 years. My Lapins gave a handful in year 3 – worth the wait!
Can I grow cherries in containers?
Absolutely. Dwarf cherry tree varieties like 'Stella Compact' thrive in 20-gallon pots. Use potting mix, not garden soil.
Which cherry trees don't need pruning?
Natural dwarf varieties like 'Romeo' bush cherries. But most benefit from annual pruning to boost yields.
What's the sweetest cherry variety?
Rainiers win sugar tests but birds steal them blind. Lapins offer better balance of sweetness and reliability for home growers.
Are there seedless cherry tree varieties?
Nope. All have pits. Some smaller-fruited types like Carmine Jewel have smaller stones though.
Planting Pro Tips From Experience
I've planted over a dozen cherry trees. Here's what nursery tags won't tell you:
- Plant high - Set rootball 2-3" above soil line to prevent rot
- Stake loosely - Only if extremely windy areas
- Mulch widely - 4ft diameter circle keeps roots happy
- First year sacrifice - Pick off blooms to boost root growth
Biggest mistake I see? Planting too deep. Killed my first two cherries that way. Now I mound slightly.
Closing Thoughts
Choosing among cherry tree varieties feels overwhelming at first. But focus on your specific situation: How much space? What climate? Want fresh snacks or pie filling? Answer those and narrow down fast.
For most backyard growers, self-fertile varieties like Lapins or Stella make life easier. If you're up north, go with Evans Bali. Down south? Try Minnie Royal/Royal Lee pairs.
Whatever you choose, plant two if space allows. Why? Because once you taste homegrown cherries, one tree's never enough. Trust me – my kids now guard our July harvest like dragon hoards.
Got questions I didn't cover? Hit me up on my gardening blog. Always happy to chat cherries!
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