This sour cherry tree is one of the first fruit trees to be used by humans. It is in the rose family and is native to SW Asia and Europe. The Latin genus name Prunus derives from the Greek proumnon , meaning “wild plum.” This small tree will grow to 30 feet, with a broadly rounded crown. The 5 petaled white flowers grow in clusters and appear in late spring. Red drupes appear in summer and are often used to make tart cherry pies. This tree will reseed and has spread beyond the garden areas. Suckers need to be removed to prevent thickets. Plant in full sun in fertile well-drained soils. It is much more cold hardy than sweet cherry trees and is self-pollinating. Double flowering cultivars are used ornamentally and not for fruit production. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Susceptible to many diseases and insects. Birds will eat the mature fruits so netting is needed to protect them More information on Prunus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
High
Canopy layer
2 - Understory
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect; Rounded
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Ovate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Ovate to elliptic smooth green leaves with serrated margins are 2-5 inches long and sometimes have 2 glands at the base.
Flower color
White
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
White 5-petaled flowers in groups of 3-5 in late spring
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Round red drupes with a center seed are sour to taste
Bark color
Dark Brown; Dark Gray
Bark detail
Gray-brown bark may peal and has prominent horizontal lenticels
Stem color
Brown/Copper; Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Gray-brown twigs with reddish buds and multiple terminal buds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
Europe to SW Asia
Wildlife value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
Cherry Lace Bug; Ornamental Cherry Pest Management Calendar
Problems
Frequent Disease Problems; Frequent Insect Problems; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Leaves; Seeds; Stems
Poison symptoms
The pits contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If a couple of pits are accidentally swallowed, it will not cause poisoning. The pits are more poisonous if they are ground up/crushed or the seeds are chewed. Fruit that has not been pitted should not be blended into a smoothie. Symptoms include Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure.
Toxic principle
cyanide
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Leaves; Seeds; Stems