#perennial

Cherries belong to the genus Prunus and include a wide variety of species and cultivars used for fruit, ornamental purposes, and timber. The main types of cherries fall into two broad categories based on their fruit use and characteristics:

• Description: Large, firm, heart-shaped fruit that are sweet and eaten fresh.

• Uses: Fresh eating, desserts, and some cooking.

• Examples: Bing, Rainier, Lambert, Chelan.

• Climate: Prefer milder winters, generally hardy to USDA zones 5-7.

• Notes: Sweet cherries are often self-sterile and require cross-pollination.

• Description: Smaller, softer, more acidic fruit than sweet cherries.

• Uses: Cooking, baking (pies, jams), and preserves.

• Examples: Montmorency, Morello, Balaton.

• Climate: More cold-hardy than sweet cherries, suitable for USDA zones 4-7.

• Notes: Sour cherries are often self-fertile and easier to grow in colder climates.

Type	Species or Group	Description & Use	Hardiness & Notes
Bird Cherries	Prunus padus and relatives	Small, sour fruits mostly eaten by birds; ornamental and wildlife value	Native to temperate Northern Hemisphere; not widely cultivated for fruit
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	Wild cherry with small, dark fruit; wood valuable for timber	Native to North America; fruit edible but tart
Nanking Cherry	Prunus tomentosa	Small, tart fruit; used in jams and jellies	Very cold-hardy, good for northern climates
Cherry Laurels	Prunus laurocerasus	Evergreen shrubs/trees, ornamental; fruit not typically eaten	Used mainly for landscaping
Hawthorn Cherries	Various Crataegus species	Small fruit, sometimes called cherries but botanically different	Mostly ornamental or wildlife food

Cherry Type	Species (Scientific Name)	Primary Use	USDA Hardiness Zone	Notes
Sweet Cherry	Prunus avium	Fresh eating	5-7	Requires cross-pollination
Sour Cherry	Prunus cerasus	Cooking, preserves	4-7	Often self-fertile
Black Cherry	Prunus serotina	Wild fruit, timber	3-7	Native, fruit tart
Nanking Cherry	Prunus tomentosa	Jams, jellies	3-6	Very cold-hardy
Bird Cherry	Prunus padus	Ornamental, wildlife	3-7	Small sour fruit
Cherry Laurel	Prunus laurocerasus	Ornamental	6-8	Not typically edible

• The two most important fruiting cherries are the sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus).

• Sour cherries are generally more cold-hardy and better adapted to colder climates.

• Other species like Nanking cherry and black cherry are used regionally for food or timber.

• Many cherries also have ornamental value, especially species with attractive flowers or evergreen leaves.

This classification covers the main types of cherries you’ll encounter for fruit production and landscaping.

Add to follow-up

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherry
2. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cherry
3. http://www.chathamapples.com/CherriesNY/Species.htm
4. https://ruffedgrousesociety.org/know-your-cover-species-group-profile-cherries/
5. https://www.bionity.com/en/encyclopedia/Cherry.html
6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_avium
7. https://www.harryanddavid.com/articles/food-drink/types-of-cherries
8. https://plantsnap.com/plantblog/types-of-cherry-trees
9. https://www.ediblearrangements.com/blog/types-of-cherries/
10. https://www.nashvilletreeconservationcorps.org/treenews/types-of-cherry-trees