Sweet Cherry plant profile
Prunus avium
A perennial fruit for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Sweet Cherry
Virginia Cooperative Extension says late February through March is the best time to plant sweet cherries in most areas; Iowa State Extension says to plant in early spring after the soil has thawed and can be worked, from container or bare-root stock.
The calendar shows this cited seasonal window as an approximate band. It does not convert the season into frost-adjusted dates.
Open Sweet Cherry in my garden calendarShows the source-backed planting season, not frost-adjusted dates.
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Soil pH
- 6.2 to 6.8
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Spacing
- 120 to 240 in apart
- Hardiness
- Zones 5 to 7Find my hardiness zone
Common problems
Watch for these
Also watch for: bacterial canker, brown rot, cherry leaf spot, cherry fruit fly, bird damage.
Next steps
Continue with Sweet Cherry
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Growing Cherries in Virginia (422-018)
Virginia Cooperative Extension. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.
- Growing Cherries in the Home Garden
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Supports general reference. Checked 2026-06-18.