What soil does Sweet cherry grow in?

It tolerates these soils: average garden soil, clay, sandy, calcareous.

Is Sweet cherry hardy?

Hardy down to -29 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Sweet cherry be planted?

Plant it at least 3.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 2.5 m from paving.

How much water does Sweet cherry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Sweet cherry cost?

It sells for roughly €1.80 to €400 in local shops, depending on size.

Sweet cherry

Prunus avium

Sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun. Hardy down to -29 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €1.80.

Illustration of Sweet cherry — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

Sweet cherry is covered in white blossom in spring and gives the first fresh fruit of summer from late May to July. It is sold grafted and the rootstock decides the final size: on a dwarfing rootstock it stays 3 to 4 m, on mahaleb it makes a 5 to 8 m tree, and on wild cherry seedling it can grow much larger, so ask for a weak-growing rootstock for a small garden. Most varieties are self-sterile and need another variety flowering at the same time nearby (a neighbour's tree will do), though self-fertile ones such as Lapins, Stella or Sunburst exist.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the main nuisance is cherry fruit fly: the European species has been joined by the later-flying eastern cherry fruit fly, and the maggots spoil the fruit of mid-season and late varieties, while early varieties mostly escape. In wet springs Monilia kills blossoms and shoots and rots the ripening fruit; cherry leaf spot, bacterial canker and gumming also occur. Rain before harvest splits the fruit, and starlings and blackbirds can strip a tree in days, with large trees almost impossible to net. Because it flowers early, spring frost often takes the crop, and the tree does not tolerate waterlogged soil. Prune in summer after harvest, as winter wounds are easily infected.

Key facts

Light: Full sun
Water need: Medium
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 4.5 m × 3.5 m
Hardiness: down to -29 °C
Foliage: Deciduous
Flowering: J F M A M J J A S O N D April–May, white

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun
Size after 10 years	4.5 m × 3.5 m
Ultimate size	3–8 m × 2.5–5.5 m
Hardiness	down to -29 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Clay, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white
Harvest	May–July
Self-fertile	no
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Medium
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 3.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 2.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €1.80

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
21 cm	approx. €30
80-100 cm	approx. €2
125-150 cm	approx. €4.60
150-175 cm	approx. €5.50
175-200 cm	approx. €15
size not stated	approx. €34 – €400

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 13, 2026 · How our data is made

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