Cherry trees are beautiful plants that produce sweet and sour fruit. In Georgia, you’ll have the option to plant either sweet or sour varieties of trees. It’s believed that sweet cherries flourish in Georgia’s climate, particularly in the piedmont and mountain areas of the state. Let’s look at some of the best Cherry Trees to grow in Georgia.
Cherry Trees in Georgia
Cherry trees do best in full sun, which Georgia has plenty of! Also, make sure that your soil is well-drained. Knowing your soil’s pH level is also helpful. Cherry trees prefer a pH between 6.2 and 6.8.
Sweetheart Cherry Tree
The sweetheart cherry tree produces bright red fruit and is known for having a long harvest period. This is the tree for you if you want to harvest as many cherries as possible in one season! In the spring, you’ll also enjoy pink and white blossoms.
The cherries have a lovely tart flavor that is well-suited to pies and jams. They grow to heights and widths of between 7 and 10 feet. The tree takes its name from the heart-shaped fruit that covers its branches throughout the summer.
Rainier Cherry Tree
The ever-popular Rainier cherry tree is one of the best for Georgia gardens and yards. It was created by crossing the bing and Van cherry tree varieties and produces some of the sweetest cherries of any cherry tree. These cherry trees are also easy to grow.
They do not require another plant to cross-pollinate, but they can benefit from one, such as the black Tartarian or Stella cherry tree, and can fruit within the first year, meaning you won’t have to wait long to enjoy some delicious cherries.
If you’ve ever bought cherries at the grocery store, they were likely of the Rainier variety. The trees produce an early harvest and pink and white blossoms in the spring. They can also reach 35 feet in height, making them the tallest cherry trees on this list.
Stella Cherry Tree
The Stella cherry tree is known for its tasty cherries and beautiful white flowers that you can enjoy in the spring. The tree produces sweet, firm fruit and grows to around 20 feet tall, with a width between 12 and 15 feet.
These trees thrive in zones 5-8 and do well in Georgia’s climate. They enjoy full sun and well-draining soil. A pH between 6 and 7 suits these plants well. These may not be right for you if you want to pick cherries within the first year. The Stella cherry tree can take up to 7 years to fruit.
Black Tartarian Cherry Tree
The black Tartarian cherry tree is another option for a cherry tree to grow in Georgia. They are well-suited for home gardens and produce large, dark purple cherries that are very rich and sweet. They’re also commonly sought after as pollinators for other trees. This is a tree for zones 5-8 and for a yard that gets full sun throughout the day, at least six hours, and has sandy soil. But, the tree will also do well in moist, well-drained soil.
The black Tartarian cherry tree grows to around 30 feet in height and around a similar width when it fully matures. There is also a smaller variety of tree that reaches a maximum of 15 feet in height and width.
3-in-1 Cherry Surprise Tree
Surprise trees are well-loved by gardeners around the country. When you plant a 3-in-1 cherry surprise tree, you won’t know exactly which cherry variety you’ll get. Grafting allows you to grow up to three types of cherries on the same tree. If you can’t decide which cherry tree to plant, the 3-in-1 may be for you!
In Conclusion
These lovely cherry trees all flourish in many states including Georgia and Arizona. They’re perfect for yards and gardens with at least six hours of sun daily and moist, well-drained soil. Any of these trees, from the black Tartarian to the Rainier cherry tree, will do well in Georgia’s warm, sunny climate.