Native to the Mediterranean, Iran and parts of central Asia where it is cultivated for its fragrant seeds, which are ground into a bitter almond-flavored spice for breads and pastries. The species name comes from haleeb, the Arabic word for ‘milk’ and it is often grown as an ornamental for its strongly fragrant milky white spring flower racemes with up to 10 blooms in each. Leaves differ from other cherry species: small, round, glossy and smooth with serrated edges. We’ve noticed them hang on and stay green and vibrant after many hard frosts. Small dark purplish-black fruits are too bitter for human consumption. Bark, wood and seeds contain coumarin, the same anti-inflammatory compound found in cinnamon. Hardy and adaptable to various soil types.
Widely used as a rootstock for sweet and pie cherries. Z4. Maine Grown.NEW! (3-6' 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.
