Cherry trees are popular for a number of different reasons. You might be interested in planting cherry trees in your yard simply because of how gorgeous they look.
Other people might want to plant cherry trees because they’re interested in being able to harvest cherries each season. Either way, it’s easy to see why cherry trees are so appealing to so many different people.
If you’re going to be planting cherry trees soon or if you just recently planted one, then you likely have many questions. Many people wonder how big cherry trees are going to get because they want to ensure that they plant them in a good spot.
Read on to learn all about cherry trees and how big they’re likely going to grow over time. You’ll also be able to get some information about what you might be able to do to help your cherry trees grow faster.
Cherry Tree Sizes Vary Based on Species
The first thing to understand is that cherry tree sizes will differ based on which species you’re talking about. There are a number of different types of cherry trees out there, and how big they’re going to get will depend on the species that they belong to.
You should make sure that you know what type of cherry tree you have. This information should have been given to you when you purchased the cherry tree, but you can also use identifiers to try to determine what species a cherry tree is if it came with a property that you recently purchased.
Keep reading to get specific information about the common types of cherry trees that you will see. This will show you just how much the size of cherry trees will differ based on species.
Sweet Cherry Trees
Bing sweet cherry trees are among the most common types of cherry trees that people like to plant in their yards. These trees have the potential to grow 35 feet tall over time, and they can be as wide as 25 feet.
These trees are going to be able to thrive in USDA zones 5-8, and they’re definitely beautiful. If you have the right climate to grow sweet cherry trees, then you’ll love having one or two in your yard.
It’s also notable that these trees are available in semi-dwarf and dwarf variants. As you might expect, the semi-dwarf and dwarf variants aren’t going to get quite as big as the standard sweet cherry trees will.
A semi-dwarf sweet cherry tree can grow up to 18 feet tall. The dwarf sweet cherry tree will be a bit smaller and can grow as large as 15 feet tall and wide.
There are other variants to consider as well that are a bit different than the standard sweet cherry trees. Rainier cherry trees grow sweet yellow cherries, and they grow to comparable sizes as other sweet cherry trees.
The big difference with the rainier cherry trees will be the fruit color and that they can thrive in USDA zones 5-9. Take your climate into consideration before choosing a cherry tree.
Sour Cherry Trees
Sour cherry trees are also referred to as tart cherry trees in many circles. These cherry trees are generally going to be quite a bit smaller than sweet cherry trees.
Most standard sour cherry trees can be expected to grow up to 20 feet tall and they’ll also be 20 feet wide. You can also find semi-dwarf and dwarf variants of these trees.
Semi-dwarf sour cherry trees can grow up to 12 feet tall whereas dwarf sour cherry trees will grow up to 8 feet tall. If you don’t want a cherry tree that is quite so big, then going with a sour cherry tree might be your best bet.
There are many other cultivars of sour cherry trees out there, but it wouldn’t be possible to go over all of the potential variants. Just know that standard sour cherry trees are going to trend a bit smaller than sweet cherry trees.
Ornamental Cherry Trees
Ornamental cherry trees are a bit different from the cherry trees that have been talked about thus far. These cherry trees are primarily grown because of how beautiful they are when they flower rather than being concerned with fruit.
These types of flowering cherry trees can fill your yard with color during the spring. The white to pink flowers of ornamental cherry trees are very pleasing overall.
Two of the most popular types of ornamental cherry trees are the Higan cherry and the Amanogawa cherry. Both have the potential to grow up to 25 feet tall over time.
The Higan cherry is going to thrive in USDA zones 5-8 while the Amanogawa thrives in USDA zones 5-7. These two ornamental cherry trees are very practical for many people and you should consider them if you live in the right climate.
Another popular type of ornamental cherry tree is the Yoshino cherry tree. This popular cherry tree has the potential to grow as tall as 50 feet and thrives in USDA zones 5-8.
Wild Cherry Trees
Finally, you should know that wild cherry trees have the potential to grow to enormous heights. In North America, you can find a wild cherry tree known as the black cherry that can grow up to 80 feet tall.
The black cherry tree can also grow to be 60 feet wide, and it’s definitely a sight to behold. Cherry trees such as this produce small purple and black berries that are edible.
People actually use these berries when making various things such as jam, jelly, brandy, and whiskey. When these fruits are pitted, it’s even possible to eat them fresh if you’d like to do so.
Wild cherry trees such as this thrive in USDA zones 2-8. If you have one of these trees on your property, you should keep in mind that the bark, roots, seeds, stems, and leaves are poisonous.
Growth Rates Will Depend on How Well You Care for the Tree
If you want to see your cherry trees thrive, then you’re going to need to take care of them well. To get your cherry trees to grow as fast as they can, you’re going to want to pay close attention to their care needs.
One of the first things to consider is the type of soil that you’re planting the trees in. Cherry trees are going to need well-draining soil, and soil with high clay content simply won’t do.
You might need to prepare the soil for the tree ahead of time if you want the cherry tree to do well. Cherry trees can die if they get watered too much, but they can also suffer if they get watered too little.
Having soil that drains properly will help you to avoid many problems that stem from watering the trees too much. You’ll still need to be mindful of how often you’re watering the tree, but well-draining soil makes a big difference.
It’s also advisable to fertilize the cherry tree every so often. You just don’t want to go overboard with fertilizer since it can be a negative thing when you use too much.
Too much fertilizer can sometimes encourage foliage to grow faster at the expense of the fruit. You might see fewer fruits being produced and more foliage growth if you use more fertilizer than you should.
Protecting your cherry trees from frost damage is one of the things to be most vigilant about when caring for them. Cherry trees can experience stunted growth and might have problems fruiting if they get shocked by frost.
You can cover cherry trees when you know that it’s supposed to dip below freezing temperatures during the night. It’s also advisable to plant your cherry trees in a spot where they will be less likely to have to deal with significant frost damage.
Doing a good job of caring for the tree can help it to grow strong. Just keep specific information about the type of cherry tree that you’re caring for in mind while making decisions.
Final Thoughts
Cherry trees are amazing and they add a lot of charm to your property. There are so many different kinds of cherry trees that you can consider planting in your yard, too.
Now you know a lot more about the popular types of cherry trees that are out there. There’s a lot of variation when it comes to how tall and wide these trees can grow.
Some of them can get incredibly tall, but you can buy dwarf variants of cherry trees if you’re looking for something a lot smaller. Having options gives you the ability to find a cherry tree that will work for your yard.
Whether you want something that grows very tall or you’d like a more modest cherry tree, it’ll surely be a lot of fun to plant one. So long as you have the right climate conditions for the cherry tree to thrive, it’ll be fine to move forward.
You can even maximize the growth potential of the tree by caring for it well and maintaining good fertilization practices. Enjoy your cherry tree no matter what species you decided to choose.
Growing up with a mom who filled her home (inside and out) with all sorts of plants, Lisa got her start in gardening at a young age. Living now on her own with a home and yard full of plants (including an indoor greenhouse), she shares all the gardening tips she’s gained over the years.
Kristy
Monday 25th of October 2021
The wild cherry....is it poisonous to eat or touch or both? Not that I would eat the bark or the roots, but just wondered if you meant poisonous like poison ivy or poison oak. Thanks!