Prunus cerasusSummer. Seedling of Cerise Hâtive or Cerise Commune. Montmorency Valley, France, before 1600. Introduced to the U.S. about 1830.
The most famous of all pie cherries. Long considered the standard of excellence in the U.S. Aromatic firm-fleshed bright red fruit makes a clear light pink juice and is a favorite for processing. Tart but still enjoyable fresh off the tree when fully ripe. Birds love them, too. Surprisingly hardy, showing no signs of dieback in central Maine after the arctic blast of February 2023. In Aroostook County trees fared better than Meteor. Appears to be resistant to brown rot.
Vigorous productive medium-sized upright-spreading tree tolerates a variety of soils. Z3/4. (3–6' grafted bare-root trees)
Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered
on or before March 7 will ship around March 31
through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in
colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will
ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in
which they were received.
Stone Fruits Widely cultivated around the world and adaptable to most of New England. Not highly particular as to soils. Clingstone means the fruit’s flesh sticks to the pit (or stone) and a freestone pit drops cleanly away from the flesh. Like our apples and pears, all our stone fruits are grafted trees.
Sweet Cherries Prunus avium
Generally grow into large trees although the flowers are tender and fruiting can be iffy in central Maine and north. We are testing the hardiest varieties and hope to keep adding more varieties.
Mature trees reach 25–30' tall.
Pie Cherries Prunus cerasus
Also called Sour Cherries. Delicious enough to eat right off the tree and especially good in pies. They fruit in early to midsummer and don’t mind heavy soil. Pie cherries are generally divided into two groups: Morello types have dark red spherical fruit, dark juice and relatively small compact trees. Montmorency (or Amarelle) types have light red slightly flattened fruit, clear juice and medium-sized somewhat open trees.
Pie cherries are significantly hardier than sweet cherries but flower buds may be damaged in colder winters. We often encounter excellent crops in central Maine.
Mature trees reach 10–15' tall.
Other “Cherries” For some interesting fruits sometimes called “cherries,” see Cornelian Cherries and Nanking Cherries. Sometimes we also stock Bush Cherries and Dwarf Sour Cherries, so check back in future years!
Growing Sweet and Pie Cherries
Soil: Prefers well-drained fertile soil; pie cherries are more forgiving and adaptable than sweet cherries.
Sun: Full.
Pollination:
Most sweet cherries need a second variety for pollination, so plant two or more for best results.
