Cherry / Sour – Prunus cerasus

Montmorency

Sweet cherry x prunus tomentosa. The standard for pie cherries. Medium large, bright red fruits with firm yellow flesh and clear juice. Rich, tart, tangy flavor. Does not get mushy during processing. Spreading, self fruitful tree grows to 15 feet. Requires good drainage and aeration. Ripens late June. 700 Chill hours. Hardy to -40 Degrees F. Zones 4-9. Originated in France in the 17^th century.

North Star

Siberian cherry x English Morello. Large fruited Morello type with thin light red skin, red flesh, red juice and a small freestone. Will retain quality on the tree up to two weeks after ripening, turning from light red to mahogany. Crack resistant. Natural dwarf tree grows 6-12 feet tall. Upright, moderately spreading habit. Dense luxuriant foliage. Vigorous. Self-fruitful. Often bears in its second year. Heavy crops. Ripens from mid-June to early July. 1000 Chill hours. Hardy to -40 Degrees F. Zones 3-8. Developed by Minnesota AES from a seedling found in Yugoslavia. Introduced in 1950.

Crimson Passion /

Pie Cher ry. Prunus cerasus x Mongolian Cherry (p. fruiticosa) cross.

Large fruit is almost the size of a quarter. Larger pit size. Sugar content up to 22 brix. Plant grows 4-5 feet tall with a few suckers therefor lower fruit production Ripens late august. Will grow in clary and/or alkaline soils. Self fertile. Hardy to Zone 2. Original breeding work done in the 1940s by Dr. Les Kerr and later by the University of Saskatchewan.

Cherry / Other

Chokecherry, Western

Prunus Virginiana var. demissa

Pendulous clusters of dark red fruit. Used for jelly. Large shrub or small tree. Large, white flower clusters. Foliage turns orange-red in the fall. Tendency to sucker. Hardy in Zone 4. Native from California to Washington and Idaho.

Nanking Cherry

(Manchu Cherry, Bush Cherry) Prunus tomentosa

Heavy crops of short stemmed, .5 inch red fruits. Tart, tangy flavor, somewhat like that of sour cherries. Hold well on the plant 2-3 weeks after ripening. Fine for pies, jams, and jellies. Vigorous, rounded deciduous shrub grows to 10 feet. Soft green foliage. White or pinkish blossoms in the spring. Used as a dwarfing rootstock for cherries. Plant two seedlings for pollination. Good intermediate windbreak filler. Attracts birds and other wildlife. Widely adapted. Requires a minimum annual precipitation of 12 inches. Ripens from July to August depending on location. Zones 3-7. Native to temperate eastern Asia.