Description
Montmorency is the cherry American pie is made of, and it accounts for most of the sour cherry grown in the country. The fruit is bright red with clear, almost colourless juice, firm and genuinely tart raw, which is the point: tartness is what survives sugar and heat.
As a tree it is easier than any sweet cherry. It is self-fertile, so one tree crops on its own; it is hardier, taking a zone colder than the sweet cherries; and it stays naturally smaller and more manageable. It is the sensible first cherry for a cold garden.
Overview
- The standard American pie cherry.
- Bright red fruit with clear juice and clean tartness.
- Self-fertile and hardier than any sweet cherry.
- Naturally smaller and easier to manage.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Prunus cerasus ‘Montmorency’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; deep, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 4
Rootstock: Mazzard F 12-1
Bearing Age: 2 to 3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 12 to 15 ft tall and wide, easily maintained smaller with pruning
Ripening Time: Mid season; June into July
Pollination: Self-fertile; one tree sets a full crop
Pests & Diseases: Bacterial canker, brown rot and cherry fruit fly; summer pruning and airflow handle most of it
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: Sour cherries do not sweeten on the tree the way sweet ones do. Pick on colour and firmness, not on taste.
- Regional Insight: Cherries want a real winter and a dry spell at ripening; where June rain is common, airflow and a crack-resistant variety matter most.
- Explore more cherry trees in our collection: Cherry Trees
