Cherry
Cherry is the common name for various trees and shrubs in the genus Prunus, as well as their fleshy stone fruits.
Cherry is the common name for various trees and shrubs in the genus Prunus, as well as their fleshy stone fruits. The term most often refers to sweet cherries and sour or tart cherries, which are widely grown for fresh eating, cooking, and processing. Some cherry species are also cultivated as ornamental flowering trees, and cherry trees are widely grown in Canada as orchard fruit and ornamental trees, especially in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Classification and naming
Cherry is the common name for several trees and shrubs in the genus Prunus, in the rose family Rosaceae. The name can refer to the plant itself, its fruit, its flowers, or its wood. The fruit is a fleshy drupe containing a single stony seed.
Major cultivated types
The two main commercial fruit types are sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and sour or tart cherry (Prunus cerasus). Sweet cherries are typically sold fresh, while sour cherries are more often frozen, canned, or used in sauces and pastries. Both are widely grown for fresh eating, cooking, and processing.
Ornamental cherries
Many cherry species, hybrids, and cultivars are planted as ornamental trees because of their prolific spring flowers. These flowering cherries are often valued more for bloom than for edible fruit.
Uses of cherry trees
Cherries are grown for edible fruit, landscaping, and timber. The dark red wood of some cherry species is especially prized for fine furniture.
Key facts
- Cherry is a common name used for several Prunus species and their fruit.
- Commercial cherries are mainly sweet cherries and sour or tart cherries.
- Sweet cherries are usually eaten fresh, while sour cherries are often used in cooking, preserves, and baked goods.
- Cherry wood is valued for furniture and other fine wood products.
Cherry trees are widely grown in Canada as orchard fruit and ornamental flowering trees, especially in temperate regions of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cherry?
What are the main types of cherries?
Are cherry blossoms the same as fruit cherries?
What kind of fruit is a cherry?
What is cherry wood used for?
References
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/plant/cherrySupports: Defines cherry as Prunus trees and their edible fruits; notes sweet and tart cherries, ornamental use, and timber value.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CherrySupports: States that cherry is the fruit of plants in the genus Prunus and describes it as a fleshy drupe; mentions common use of the term for tree, flowers, and wood.
- Woodland Trust — https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/wild-cherry/Supports: Identifies wild cherry as Prunus avium and confirms its native range and family Rosaceae.
- North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-avium/Supports: Describes sweet cherry as a deciduous Rosaceae tree grown for edible fruit and notes the fruit as a fleshy drupe.