Tree · Rosaceae family
sour cherry
Prunus cerasus
In short a 10-second read
Sour cherry (tree) grows to 3–8 m tall and 3–6 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil. It flowers in April; the flowers are white. Hardy to −34 °C.
× spread 3–6 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun, in average to moist soil. Hardy to −34 °C.
Sun
Elsewhere it will grow less well.
Soil and water
average to moist · watering: moderate
Soil: humus-rich, loamy
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
Reaches maturity in about 10–20 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.
Calendar
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
April · white
Pruning
remove dead and damaged growth (July–August)
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −34 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does sour cherry flower?
In April; the flowers are white.
Does sour cherry tolerate shade?
No, it needs full sun.
How much space does sour cherry need?
At maturity 3–6 m wide and 3–8 m tall; recommended spacing 400 cm.
Does sour cherry survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −34 °C.
Where the data comes from
We compared the data in 18 expert sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (18)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Prunus cerasus
- Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder — Prunus cerasus
- GBIF Occurrence Search API — Prunus cerasus
- EPPO Global Database — Prunus cerasus
- Polleninformation.at Plantcompass — Blackthorn / sloe / cherry / damson plum
- Zahradníková E., Rendeková A., Ščevková J. (2023) Temporal variation of allergenic potential in urban parks: a case study from Bratislava, Slovakia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 31: 2026–2041 (doi 10.1007/s11356-023-31137-9) — tabuľka peľového a alergénneho potenciálu drevín
- RHS - Cherries
- RHS - Pruning plums
- RHS - Prunus cerasus
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
- Invasive plant lists — this species is not on them: EU, Slovakia, Czechia, Germany, Poland, Denmark
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