The Botanical Diary
C
Fruit trees

Cherry Plum

Prunus cerasifera

Cherry Plum is a champion for productivity among stone fruits, yielding up to 80 kg per tree.

Regions
Centre, South, West
Colour
white, pink
Cherry Plum
🌸
Bloom
March–April
☀️
Light
Full sun
💧
Watering
Moderate
📏
Height
4–8 m
❄️
Hardiness
Zone 5b

Cherry Plum is one of the oldest fruit crops, originating from the Caucasus and Mediterranean regions, where it has been cultivated for at least several thousand years. This undemanding plant has long won the hearts of gardeners worldwide through its reliability and generous yields, becoming a true treasure for those seeking a balance between beauty and practicality.

In March and April, the tree becomes covered with delicate white and pink blossoms, creating a charming spring picture. Reaching 4–8 metres in height, the cherry plum forms a compact crown that responds well to pruning and takes up little space on the plot. There are many interesting varieties—from the classic yellow cherry plum to dark red and even black cultivars, each with its own flavour characteristics and uses. The wonderful sweet-tart taste of the fruits makes them ideal for both fresh consumption and preservation.

In the garden, cherry plum pairs beautifully with plum, apricot, and sour cherry, creating a harmonious composition of stone fruits. Undemanding in care, it requires only moderate watering and a sunny location. Most interestingly, the cherry plum is rightfully considered a champion in yield among stone fruits—a single tree can produce up to 80 kilogrammes of delicious fruit per season. It is an excellent crop for gardens of any size: from small urban plots to large agricultural operations, combining the beauty of spring flowering with the practical generosity of harvest.

Location & soil

Cherry Plum — planting & location

LightFull sun
Soil typeany, рН 6–7,5
Planting timeOctober або April
Plant spacing3–4 m
Planting depthAt root collar level

Tart-sweet fruits, early flowering

Water needs

How to water Cherry Plum

IntensityModerate
FrequencyJune–August
Volume12–15
MethodПід крону

Moderate watering

Annual care

Fertilizing and pruning: Cherry Plum

Spring fertilizingNitrogen (April)
Summer fertilizingNo feeding required
Autumn fertilizingSuperphosphate (August)
Pruning timeFebruary–March
Pruning typeSanitary + формуюча

Remove suckers and diseased branches

Cold hardiness

Cherry Plum — winter hardiness & care

Hardiness zoneZone 5b
Winter coverWhitewash the trunk
Cover timingOctober
Plant protection

Diseases and pests of Cherry Plum

Diseases
Brown rotклястероспоріоз
Pests
Сливова плодожерка
Garden design

What grows well with Cherry Plum?

Plum, Apricot, Sour cherry