Sour cherries taste good both fresh from the tree and cooked. But how much do you know about the tree? How big will he actually be? Where does he originally come from? Find out in the following profile.
What are the characteristics of sour cherry?
The sour cherry (Prunus) belongs to the rose family and originally comes from the Middle East. It grows up to 10 meters high and has egg-shaped, deep green leaves. Its white flowers appear in April to May and the drupes ripen from July to August.
The most important features at a glance
Plant family and genus: Rosaceae, Prunus
Origin: Near East
Growth: up to 10 m high, upright, moderately branched
Foliage: deciduous, deep green, ovoid to elliptical
Flowers: April to May, white, hermaphrodite
Fruits: drupes, July to August
Location: sunny to partially shaded
Soil: deep, nutrient-rich, moist
Care: thin out or cut back once a yearUse: canned fruit, juice and wine production, fresh consumption
Flexible growth pattern
The sour cherry is now a native plant. It is also known as the sour cherry. Whether as a tree, shrub or bush – the sour cherry is flexible in its growth. As a tree, it has a loose and rounded crown. Their branches tend to hang over a little.
From bottom to top
The roots of the sour cherry extend deep into the ground. It likes to form extensive lateral roots that are closer to the surface and sporadically give rise to runners. The trunk or trunks are covered by a characteristic ringed bark. The branches have a reddish, shiny bark.
In contrast to the leaves of the sweet cherry, the alternate leaves of the sour cherry are harder and glandless. They are egg-shaped and briefly pointed. Their length is between 5 and 12 cm and their width is between 4 and 6 cm. While they are dark green and shiny in summer, they turn yellow in autumn.
The flowering period begins between April and May. The hermaphrodite, five-fold and white flowers sit in clusters of two to four in umbels. They appear along with the leaves. The bell-shaped flower cup produces spherical fruits, up to 2 cm in size, in midsummer. It is best to harvest these when they are almost black.
Location requirements and care requirements
The sour cherry requires a sunny to partially shaded location. It prefers to grow in loose, light, humus- and nutrient-rich and slightly calcareous soil. She is undemanding in terms of care. All that is required is regular pruning and thinning.
Tips & Tricks
The sour cherry fruits, which ripen between July and August, are not only delicious and extremely juicy, but also powerful. They contain a high iron and polyphenol content and have, among other things, laxative, blood-purifying and diuretic effects.