Cherry Fruit trees

Cherry trees, celebrated for their stunning blossoms, are deciduous trees belonging to the genus Prunus. They are renowned for their springtime bloom, which presents a breathtaking display of delicate flowers, typically pink or white. These blossoms are culturally significant, especially in Japan where "hanami" festivals celebrate their fleeting beauty. Cherry trees range in height, with some varieties reaching up to 25 feet. Beyond their ornamental value, many cherry trees also produce fruit, ranging from sweet to tart flavors, used in various culinary dishes. Their leaves, which emerge after the flowering period, are broad and offer a lush, green canopy.

Cherry Tree: A Springtime Symphony of Joy

Cherry tree is an exquisite silent artist that turns every spring into a masterpiece with its spectacular blossoms. Discover how to find the best cherry tree for sale and bring perpetual joy into your garden.

If you are near Chichester, West Sussex, you are more than welcome to visit our Arundel Arboretum nursery and meet our experts. They will gladly chat with you, show you around, answer your questions, share some valuable advice, and offer you the best cherry tree UK selection.

If you are looking to buy cherry trees online, explore our web store and our carefully curated, both young and mature cherry trees for sale.

How to Choose Your Cherry Tree?

Before heading to a cherry tree farm or browsing to buy cherry tree online, you need to figure out what is the best cherry tree variety for your garden. Check out this simple guide to help you decide.

How to Choose Your Cherry Tree?

Before heading to a cherry tree farm or browsing to buy cherry tree online, you need to figure out what is the best cherry tree variety for your garden. Check out this simple guide to help you decide.

Sweet Cherry vs. Sour Cherry

When looking to buy a cherry tree bear in mind that dessert (sweet) and cooking (sour) cherry are two different species. Still, they can cross-pollinate.

Sweet cherries (Prunus avium) have glossy, red to dark purple skin and smooth and juicy flesh. They are sweet and delicious but do not keep well. Therefore, they are best to be eaten fresh. The popular sweet cherry tree varieties that you can find in our nursery are:

Sour cherries (Prunus cerasus) are smaller than sweet cherries and have red to dark red skin. Their flesh is juicy and less firm than sweet cherries. They have a tart and tangy flavour and are perfect for cooking, baking, and preserving. The popular sour cherry tree varieties are:

Self-Pollination vs. Cross-Pollination

A self-pollinating tree pollinates itself and does not need to be pollinated by other varieties to bear fruit. Cross-pollinating cherries need pollination from another cherry tree that flowers at the same time. For a beginner gardener, it is best to plant a self-pollinating variety first and add other compatible varieties later.

Self-pollinating (self-fertile) cherry trees:

Cross-pollinating (universal donors) cherry trees:

Colt Rootstock vs. Gisela 5 Rootstock

Cherries, like many other fruit trees, are often grafted onto rootstocks. In Arundel Arboretum, our best cherry trees for small gardens UK selection are grafted on Colt and Gisela 5 rootstocks. Here are the main characteristics of these two rootstocks:

Colt Rootstock

Colt rootstock is a semi-vigorous rootstock producing trees 6 to 8 m tall. It tolerates poorer soils than Gisela 5 and needs less care. It is used for growing bush or half-standard trees. Roughly similar to MM111 apple rootstock. Sour cherries reach 3-3.5m on this rootstock.

Gisela 5 Rootstock

Gisela 5 rootstock produces a 3m tall tree, roughly equivalent to M26 rootstock and about half the size of a Standard cherry on seedling rootstock. 

It needs a 2m permanent stake and is good for training against a wall or trellis. It needs good growing conditions, fertile soil, regular pruning, and the area around it free from weeds and grass.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I start growing cherry trees? If you are a beginner gardener, it is best to choose a self-fertile variety for your first cherry tree to ensure pollination. Once you have it in your garden, you can continue buying cherry trees in the same flowering group.
  • When is the best time to plant cherry trees? The ideal time to plant a cherry tree is late autumn or early spring, during the dormant season. Late autumn is better because the soil is still warm and the root will grow while the tree is entering dormancy.
  • How long does it take to get the first crop? It depends on the type of cherry tree and its age when planted. On average, sweet cherry trees need about 2 to 5 years to produce the first significant crop. Sour cherries bear fruit earlier, within 2 to 4 years. 
  • How long do cherry blossoms last? Cherry blossom can last around 14 days, but frost, high temperature, wind, or rain can shorten that period.
  • How much sunlight does a cherry tree need?Cherry trees thrive in full sun and usually need 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight for healthy growth and abundant crops. 
  • What type of soil is the best for cherry trees? Cherry trees prefer loamy, slightly acidic to neutral, moist, well-drained soils, rich in organic matter. Loamy soil is a mix of sand, salt, and clay and provides good drainage while staying moist.
  • How far apart should I plant multiple cherry trees? The spacing between cherry trees depends on the variety and the size they are expected to reach. In general, they should be planted 4.5 to 6m apart. That distance allows them to develop a healthy canopy. 
  • Do cherry trees require cross-pollination? Sour cherry trees are, generally, self-pollinating. Some sweet cherry tree varieties are self-pollinating, but most of them give better crops when planted near another compatible sweet cherry for cross-pollination.
  • How often should I water my newly planted cherry tree? For the first few weeks, the soil should be kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. During the first growing season, it should be watered regularly, especially during dry periods. Once established, a cherry tree becomes mostly tolerant to drought, but should be watered in the prolonged absence of rain.
  • When can I expect my cherry tree to bear fruit? Sweet cherry tree typically brings its first crop 3 to 5 years after planting. Sour cherry trees bear fruit a little bit earlier, within 2 to 4 years from planting.
  • Do I need to prune cherry trees? Punning fruiting trees is important for shaping the tree, controlling height, enabling good air circulation, and maximizing fruit production. In general, it should be done in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant. However, sweet cherries are an exception. They are more susceptible to fungal and bacterial disease and it’s best to prune them in late summer
  • How tall does dwarf cherry tree UK grow? The ultimate size of a dwarf cherry tree depends on various factors, such as rootstock, soil quality, and climate conditions. However, the dwarf cherry tree is typically 1.8-3m tall.
  • What are the advantages of dwarf cherry trees? Dwarf cherry trees are popular because they are compact and suitable for small gardens, patios, or for growing in containers. They are easier to maintain and harvest because the branches are easier to reach.
  • Are there any cherry trees for sale near me? If you are looking for an apple tree sale UK and you are near Chichester, come and visit our Arundel Arboretum nursery. If you are not near us, we invite you to explore our online store and find your perfect plant. The rest is on us. If you have any questions or if there's anything we can assist you with, please feel free to reach out.
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