Best 6 Cherry Trees To Grow In Alabama

Best Cherry / Fruit Tree To Plant In Alabama

The hot summers across Alabama and the mild, chilly winters have an effect on which kinds of cherry trees grow best and produce cherries.

Alabama’s northern counties experience higher temperatures than its southern counties, which means Alabamans need to pick cherry trees, rated to grow with the right number of chilling hours so the flowers will bloom and fruit will set.

There are many cherry trees which are grafted onto disease-resistant, hardy rootstock, which is beneficial to the trees’ performance in the climate as well as in the soil. Please contact the local Alabama Cooperative Extension Service office for specific recommendations on varieties that are suitable for your area of the state. Zones 7 or 9 of the Department of Agriculture are considered to be hardy.

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Rainier Cherry Tree

Are you familiar with the deliciousness of Rainier cherries from your local farmers’ market? As its name implies, it was created at Washington State University in the Pacific Northwest.

Mount Rainier is just as amazing to taste as it is to look at. The original Bing Cherry was crossbred with the traditional Van Cherry, the age-old favorite.

In your backyard orchard, don’t miss growing the early-bearing, precocious Rainier Cherry (Prunus avium ‘Rainier’). There is nothing quite like the taste of this large, juicy, yellow fruit with a gorgeous red blush.

Rainier cherries are among the sweetest yellow cherries in the world, making them a popular choice for home gardeners. Easy-to-grow, this tree is low-maintenance and requires little care.

For its white flesh or for its yellow skin blushed in red, this fruit is called a “white cherry.” Rainier’s exceptionally sweet fruit makes it a prized cultivar.

Yellow cherries are often considered as the best cherries ever developed, and some even consider this the best one of all the cherry varieties.

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Bing Cherry Tree

One of the most famous and best-known varieties of Sweet Cherry is the Bing Cherry (Prunus avium ‘Bing’). The variety was discovered in the orchards of Seth Lewelling in Milwaukie, Oregon, as a cross between the Black Republican and an unknown parent.

The blossoms of the Bing Cherry will be dazzling in the spring when they are covered in white. In mid-June, the Bing Cherry will produce a deep purple, almost-black fruit. Bright green leaves will appear later in the spring and during the summer.

Traditionally, Bing cherries have been very large, dark, delicious, and smooth. Their flavor has set a high standard for over a century. As with most cherry varieties, the fruit is firm, extremely juicy, and has what has become a classic, sweet cherry flavor. When they are ripe, harvest them because once picked, they cannot ripen any more.

Heavy production is also a key component in the Bings commercial success. It’s always abundant come mid-season with the Bing’s Sweet Cherries!

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Montmorency Cherry Tree

The Montmorency Sour Cherry (Prunus cerasus ‘Montmorency’) originated in the Montmorency Valley of France centuries ago among farmers seeking the best sour cherries available. Since it’s the best, it has become the most popular sour cherry!

MONTMORENCY TARTS ARE BIG, BRIGHT, AND RED! When pressed, these bright red cherries have a thin, juicy flesh with a tangy taste that once tried is irresistible. The slightly sour flavor of this fruit makes it an excellent pie filling. 

Make sure to try it in cobblers and other desserts as well. This tart fruit can be made into tasty preserves, frozen for later use, or even dried for a delicious, healthy snack.

The Montmorency Sour Cherry does have medicinal value, however. Have you been gardening all day and feel a little tired? I’m fine. Among their benefits are the alleviation of muscle and joint pain, the relief of arthritis symptoms, and the reduction of stress. Additionally, it can improve your thinking ability, memory, and mood. You can put a cherry on top of your sundae now.

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Van Cherry Tree

Among the finest cherries for home gardening, the Van Cherry Tree (Prunus avium ‘Van’) has a well-deserved reputation. This is a cold hardy sweet cherry variety that has amazing ornamental features!

Early in the spring, when Van is covered in clusters of snow-white flowers, it creates a magnificent display for the neighborhood.

Its medium size, upright, round form and shiny, serrated leaves make it a beautiful choice for front yards and mini orchards!

In contrast to the lush green foliage are the red cherries, hanging by the handfuls, tempting you to grab them for a sweet and tart snack.

During the late mid-season, this variety produces shiny, red-black, sweet fruits. You will have a larger and more bountiful harvest because they will resist cracking.

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Early Richmond Cherry Tree

Cherry trees are prized for their high yield and ornamental qualities, and the Early Richmond Cherry Tree (Prunus cerasus ‘Early Richmond’) is no exception! Early Richmond Cherry trees have been grown in England since the mid-15th century, and after their arrival in colonial America they have enjoyed a long and delicious history.

The Early Richmond’s flowers are abundant in white clusters every spring. The glossy, dark green foliage of this rounded tree provides a stark contrast against the red cherries that begin to hang heavy in the summer, warmed by the sun.

This cherry tree ripens up to a week earlier than other cherry trees, as early as June.

The Early Richmond is great for cooking, canning, and preserving as well as eating them straight from the tree. You’ll get lots of bright red pies cherries, which are true to the classic red cherry, and they’re full of juice!

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Utah Giant Cherry Tree

Is there anyone who doesn’t love a fresh, sweet cherry? You can’t beat the taste of homegrown vegetables. A Utah Giant Sweet Cherry tree (Prunus avium Utah Giant’) boasts phenomenal flavor and performance.

The problem is, sometimes they don’t always taste so good when they are harvested, stored, packaged, and shipped across the country. What better way to enjoy those award-winning flavors than to pick them fresh from your own tree?

There will need to be cross-pollination with another Sweet Cherry blooming at the same time as Utah Giant, a mid-season bloomer. Van Cherry and Bing trees are some varieties that pollinate with Black Tatarian, Rainier, and Black Tatarian.

It won’t be long before you’re picking that mouth-watering, firm Sweet Cherry crop! Despite its dark red color and sweet taste, the flesh of the fruit is incredibly sweet. The fruit can be enjoyed fresh or canned later.