Sour cherry
Prunus cerasus
The pie cherry: self-fertile and hardier than sweet cherries.
Hardiness: zones 4 to 7
Light: full sun
Size: about 12 ft tall, 10 ft wide
Harvest: June to July
From: Europe and W. Asia
Here: Hardy in the Lake Erie shore climate (zone 6b to 7a), so it can live outdoors in the ground.
Good for: food, pollinators.
Native to: Caucasus. Hardy in zones 4 to 7.
The story
Tart cherries were the cherries of Roman kitchens and medieval orchards long before sweet dessert types took over; 'Montmorency' is a French selection from the 1600s. They are the pie cherries of Michigan and the vişne of Turkish sherbet.
Planting
Plant in full sun in well-drained soil; most sour cherries are self-fertile, so one tree fruits alone. They stay small, 12 to 20 feet, and take more cold than sweet cherries.
Growing
Prune lightly after harvest, never in wet weather, to limit bacterial canker. Mulch and water in dry spells; the roots are shallow.
Harvest and use
Pick in early summer when fully red and soft; shake a branch over a sheet and the ripe ones fall. Pit the same day for pies, jam and dried cherries.
What to watch for
Birds will take the whole crop; net the tree. Cherry leaf spot and brown rot in humid summers.
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General guidance, not professional advice. Conditions vary by yard and year; for local specifics ask your county extension office. Never eat a wild plant you cannot identify with certainty. Traditional uses are shared as history, not medical advice. © 2026 Sean Priest · Irie Orchard. Terms & credits · Privacy · Home