What soil does Sour cherry grow in?

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

Is Sour cherry hardy?

Hardy down to -34 °C (USDA zone 4, RHS H7). It gets through winter in every part of the country.

How far from the house should Sour cherry be planted?

Plant it at least 2.5 m from buildings. Keep it at least 0.5 m from paving.

How much water does Sour cherry need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: medium.

How much does Sour cherry cost?

It sells for roughly €12 to €27 in local shops, depending on size.

Sour cherry

Prunus cerasus

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) is a fruit plant. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -34 °C. Drought tolerance: medium. Toxic to dogs and cats. Sold in local shops from about €12.

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

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

Sour cherry is a smaller and less demanding fruit tree than sweet cherry: it flowers later, so spring frost takes the crop less often, and it copes better with summer heat. The widely grown Hungarian varieties (Érdi bőtermő, Újfehértói fürtös, Debreceni bőtermő, Cigánymeggy) are self-fertile, so a single tree crops reliably in June and July; Pándy is the exception and needs a pollination partner. It is sold grafted and the final size depends on the rootstock (typically 4 to 8 m), while a tree on its own roots throws many suckers that have to be removed.

Watch out for

In Central Europe the key problem of sour cherry is Monilia blossom and shoot blight: in a cool, rainy flowering period the blossoms turn brown, the twigs die back within days, and without control the crown becomes bare in a few years. Cut diseased parts back to healthy wood and spray susceptible varieties at flowering, or choose a more resistant variety. Cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella) can defoliate the tree by midsummer and weaken it. Cherry fruit fly (the European species and the later-flying eastern one) also infests sour cherries, and birds take part of the crop. It struggles on waterlogged, heavy and strongly acidic soils.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: Medium
Size after 10 years: 4 m × 3.5 m
Hardiness: down to -34 °C
Foliage: Deciduous

Group	Fruit
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	4 m × 3.5 m
Ultimate size	3–8 m × 3–6 m
Hardiness	down to -34 °C (USDA 4, RHS H7)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy, Calcareous
Foliage	Deciduous
Flowering	April–May, white
Harvest	June–July
Self-fertile	yes
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Medium
Maintenance	Medium
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	yes
Spreading	Medium
Distance from buildings	at least 2.5 m
Distance from paving	at least 0.5 m
Litter	Fruit
Planting distance	500 cm
For dogs	Toxic
For cats	Toxic
For children	Mildly toxic (uncertain)
Typical price	from about €12

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
100-150 cm	approx. €17
120-150 cm	approx. €17
140-180 cm	approx. €15
160-180 cm	approx. €27
size not stated	approx. €12 – €23

Frequently asked questions

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

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Sour cherry vs Apricot Sour cherry vs Peach Sour cherry vs Sweet cherry

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