The Different Types of Cherry Trees in North Carolina

When you think of North Carolina, you probably think of beautiful landscapes, friendly people, and great food. But have you ever wondered what kinds of cherry trees live in North Carolina? Are there any unique cherry trees? How many types of cherry trees are there?

Cherry trees reside all over the state but are especially prevalent in the northwestern part. The Northwest region is home to one of only two natural habitats for black cherry trees in North Carolina. Other areas have smaller populations of these majestic trees due to their susceptibility to disease and pests, making them quite rare.

There are many selections, but it may be challenging to make a choice or know where to begin. If you’re considering buying your cherry tree, there are many different types of cherry trees available in North Carolina.

We have a wealth of knowledge of a wide range of cherry trees in our great state. But what are all the different types of cherry trees?

The following are types of cherries that are common in North Carolina.

The Fast Growing Carolina Cherry Laurel

The Carolina cherry laurel (Prunus Caroliniana)is also called the cherry laurel cherry. With its name, it is one of the best cherry trees in North Carolina. The cherry is a small tree that grows to 15-36 feet with an oval spread. It is cold tolerant and requires full sun. The Carolina cherry grows well in moist soils, but excessive saturation may cause the roots to rot.

The twigs, seeds, and leaves have hydrocyanic acid and are toxic. Therefore, they are not edible. However, the toxin levels depend on the plant’s parts, growth stage, and season.

You can use Carolina cherry laurel for landscaping as an evergreen hedge, live fence, or windbreak. The plant has low maintenance characteristics and is thus the best for live fences. “Like cherry blossoms, love blooms. They flourish in time for the first signs of spring. They brighten even the most desolate landscape. They disperse with the first blast of wind. However, as they stand, you get a narrow view of paradise when you look at them.” Georgia Kakalopoulou

Also, Carolina Cherry laurel is generally disease and pest-resistant. However, spider-mites, caterpillars, whiteflies, aphids, and mites still affect the plant but cause minor damage. Additionally, an infection such as cherry laurel powder, although harmless, can ruin the appearance of your hedge.

The Scots Geans, or Wild Cherry

Wild cherry (Prunus serotina) is found all around North Carolina, performing better in the mountains. The tree grows to 60-80 feet tall with a 20-30 feet spread. The performance of the cherry requires well-drained acidic soils.

However, it can tolerate alkaline soil, road salts, and dry sites. It develops an oval crown shape, mainly growing in early spring, early fall, mid-spring, and mid-fall. In addition, the tree requires sufficient sunlight, which is approximately six hours daily for efficient growth.

It takes a white pyramid shape when young and grows faster than other berries. The tree is aggressive, has messy plant parts, and is highly susceptible to ice damage.

The wild cherry flowers appear as drooping clusters in spring, followed by dark pea-sized fruits in late summer—wild cherry produces furniture. The wood is moderately hard and heavy when dried. Cherry wood also makes printers’ blocks, pianos, organs, caskets, and handles.

However, the black cherry is affected by black disease and insects such as peachtree, lesser peachtree borer, and eastern tent caterpillar.

Ronald’s Large Black Heart, Black Tartarian Cheese

Initially, the black Tartarian cherry (Prunus avium) grew in Russia. Then it was introduced to England by Hugh Ronald in 1974. Finally, in the 1800s, the cherry came to the United States.

The black Tartarian is a sweet species of cherry at maturity. The tree has a medium growth rate, growing at the height of about 13-24 inches per year to a height of 30 feet and a spread of 30 feet. Additionally, the black Tartarian requires six hours of direct sunlight every day. The tree is drought resistant and prefers moist, well-drained, or light sandy soils.

The tree produces heart-shaped purplish black fruits ideal for fresh consumption or storage. The cherry bears fruit approximately four years after planting and delivers till old age with a good watering.

Sweet cherries also offer food to different mammals and birds. ”Rows of cherry trees marked the end of their season along the wide, curving moat surrounding the palace. Some trees were crying: white and pale pink blossoms, ponderous with age, eddying on the brown water, stirred by ducks paddling. ” said John Burnham Schwartz.

The National Reforestation Tree, Pin Cherry

The pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) is often known as the bird cherry, red cherry, or fire cherry. In North Carolina, the pin cherry grows only in the mountains. Additionally, it prefers dry or moist soils and can grow in disturbed sites and woodland edges.

Surprisingly, the cherry can sprout after a fire and lie dormant for years. The pin cherry is a shrub that grows to approximately 30 feet with a longevity of 20-40 years. The tree is a high-value wildlife tree with a shallow root system and does well in moist soils. The trunks are bright reddish brown and lustrous, peeling off in a horizontal strip.

Wild birds feed on the seeds and spread them for pollination. Additionally, pin cherries are grown mainly for their ornamental value.

The tree is affected by fungal diseases such as leaf spots, brown rot, leaf scorch, root rot, and shot hole. In addition, pests such as aphids, scales, and fruit flies pose a significant danger to the cherry. However, you can use nets and nylon mesh to reduce the damage done by birds. Freezing temperatures can also damage the buds and flowers.

The Chinese Ah Bing tree, the Bing cherry

Seth Lewelling, a coworker of Ah Bing’s, named the cherry trees after Bing. Seth Lewelling pioneered the Bing tree, America’s #1 cherry. The Bing cherry (Prunus avium) grows in standard and dwarf forms. The dwarf form grows to a height of 12-15 feet, while the standard species grows to roughly 35 feet with a spread of 25 feet at maturity. The tree height increases at a rate of 13-14 inches per year, maturing in 5-6 years when well watered.

The Bing cherry trees have dark green leaves that turn golden in the fall and a corky striped smooth and reddish bark. The tree blooms in early spring with fragrant white flowers. Also, the heart-shaped tree fruits have firm, purplish red flesh and are semi-freestone. Bing trees require pollination from compatible trees such as Black Republican, Tartarian, Stella, Montmorency, or Windsor to bloom.

The purplish red fruits attract birds that depend on them for survival. Other animals also browse the leaves for food.

The Ornamental Akebono Yoshino Cherry

The Akebono Yoshino cherry (prunus x yedoesnis) is also known as the Akebono Yoshino, Daybreak Yoshino cherry, or Japanese flowering cherry. The Akebono first came to San Jose, California, from Japan in 1925, and in the 1930’s it was donated and planted in Washington, D.C. The name Akebono means “daybreak.”

The tree is deciduous with a round shape. The Akebono cherry tree requires six hours of sunlight per day and well-drained soil. The cherry tree has a longevity of 40 years and can develop to a 25-foot height and a 25-foot spread.

The Akebono tree has a low canopy with a clearance of around 4 feet from the ground. Additionally, the tree may not grow in stagnant waters and nutrient-deprived soils.

In the current world, pollution is a menace in many countries around the world. However, the Akebono withstands pollution and can grow in industrial cities, making it one of the best cherry trees in North Carolina. Additionally, the cherry is an interspecific hybrid species.

The Akebono cherry tree has clusters of well-smelling shell-pink flowers along the branches in spring. The flowers emerge beautifully from distinctive pink flower buds while the leaves turn yellow in the fall. What is the appearance of the Akebono fruit?

The Akebono fruits are showy black drupes that the tree produces in early fall. The tree also has a dark red bark to enhance its fantastic beauty. You can confidently choose the Akebono for your landscape.

The tree requires good maintenance and upkeep in late winter when the cold is declining. Also, aphids, scales, and spiders are a big problem for the Akebono tree. Besides, diseases such as leaf spots, root rot, black knot, and common rots also affect the plants. In addition, the Akebono cherry is vulnerable to witch broom, and pruning helps control the disease.

The Pie Standard, Montmorency Cherries

Did you know that the Montmorency cherry accounts for 95% of all cherry production? As a result, the Montmorency cherry is the most popular cherry for pies. The tree produces large red fruits with yellow flesh, rich in tartness and tangy flavor.

It can grow to be 18 feet tall and spread to be 18 feet wide. To 20 feet at maturity with a growth rate of 13–24 inches per year, which is a medium growth rate. Also, it does well in full sun conditions and well-drained sandy and loamy soils. Luckily, the tree can withstand water scarcity, and it is thus drought resistant.

The Montmorency cherry tree produces fruit more reliably in cooler climates than other sweet cherry trees. However, after two months of spring bloom, birds eat the fruits that ripen in late June. To avoid this, use nylon or cheesecloth netting over the tree.

The Self-Pollinating Lapins Cherry Tree

In Columbia, Canada, researchers aimed to produce a better sweet cherry in the pacific Agri-food research center. The result would be similar to the original but with commendable improvements in quality. It develops to around 2.5-4 meters tall and 2.5-4 meters wide. Furthermore, it features a leaf and branch structure that promotes high yields. Due to the self-pollinating nature of the lapin cherry, it is one of the best cherry trees in North Carolina.

The Lapin cherry (Prunus avium) has a dark, 2.5-inch diameter fruit. What distinguishes the Lapin cherry from the Bing cherry? The lapin cherry fruit is solid and resists splitting.

It is self-fertile and a viable pollinator for other cherry species. The cherry can tolerate shallow temperatures and produce fruit without pollination. Therefore, it is a low-maintenance cherry crop.

The Yellow Colored Rainier Cherry Trees

The Rainier cherry(Prunus Avium) tree is also known as the white cherry because its fruit has a creamy white flesh. The cherry was born out of crossbreeding of the bing and van cherry. Furthermore, the trees produce spectacular, inky white blossoms with an attractive smell and fiery foliage.

Moreover, the trees produce fruit in May or June, earlier than the other cherry plants. The fruit is resistant and yellow on the outside with a scarlet blush. Therefore, birds are less attracted to them.

The plant performs inexplicably well with full sun and loamy soil. The cherry tree grows to 35 feet tall, but you can prune it for easy picking of cherry fruits. Also, the black Tartarian or Stella cherry varieties can pollinate the Rainier cherry. Do you know that July 11th is National Rainier Cherry Day?

How Are Cherries Grown

There are different types of cherry trees in the world. Therefore, planting trees in your garden or backyard is vital to your landscape.

Follow these simple steps to plant the cherry trees in your home and achieve the best possible crop and fruit.

• Dig a hole twice or thrice the size of the plant’s roots and deep enough to accommodate the roots.
• Add some composite manure to the soil and ensure it is well-mixed. However, make sure not to add too much of it. It may burn the plant.
• Plant the tree and position the graft to the north.
• Refill the hole with the soil that you mixed with the manure.
• Also, ensure you don’t cover the graft too profoundly.
• Stake the cherry tree so it grows straight to avoid wind damage.

Which is the Sweetest Cherry

The sweetest cherries are black. So, naturally, the Bing cherry is the most precious. To identify the black cherries, check for their black skin and heart shape.

What Cherries are Edible?

Most cherries are edible. However, some are sharp and sour and therefore inedible. Some cherries also require cooking before consumption.