Cherry Tree (Prunus avium)

Sweet cherry (*Prunus avium*) is a deciduous fruit tree with a spring display of white flowers and summer cherries that may ripen red, yellow, or nearly black. Oregon State University describes cultivated trees commonly reaching 30–40 feet, while other extension references report smaller ranges that reflect cultivar and rootstock differences. [Oregon State University](https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/prunus-avium) · [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-avium/common-name/sweet-cherry/) ## Site and fruiting Choose a sunny position with fertile, well-drained soil that retains enough moisture for fruit production. Many sweet cherries need a compatible pollinizer; check the requirements of the selected cultivar and allow room for both trees. The species includes familiar names such as Sweet Cherry, Gean, and Mazzard, which are retained here as useful common names. Mature size and harvest timing vary among cultivars and rootstocks. ## Maintenance Water during establishment and extended dry spells, avoiding persistently wet soil. Train young trees to a strong framework and prune according to local stone-fruit guidance, generally in dry weather to reduce disease risk. Harvest when fruit is fully colored and ripe; protect developing crops from birds where needed. ## Yavapai County — 2025 source scope and care The [University of Arizona Yavapai County bulletin](https://extension.arizona.edu/sites/default/files/2025-03/FirewisePlants3-14-2025.pdf), page 1, lists Fruit (apples, pears, peaches, cherry) with the botanical cell (no botanical name supplied) and form T. It places this entry in its fire-resistant list. The matched catalog name is Prunus avium. Four named fruit groups are represented separately by unselected Malus domestica (apple), Pyrus communis (pear), Prunus persica (peach) and Prunus avium (cherry). The bulletin does not name these species or individually assess their cultivars; the row remains a qualified common-group match. Source form codes: C=groundcover, G=grass, P=perennial, S=shrub, T=tree and V=vine. Printed names and form codes can include source spelling errors or historical taxonomic treatments; the source wording is retained separately from the catalog name and plant-specific habit. The bulletin states that resistant plants require irrigation and frequent maintenance. It describes low shrubs or clean taller shrubs with little dead material. Maintain suitable moisture and spacing, remove dead growth and avoid continuous fuel; a regional list does not establish every selection's performance or local cold hardiness. No plant is fireproof. Keep this Yavapai classification separate from Arizona UA, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Colorado and other source ratings and their placement, moisture and maintenance conditions.