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 trees and shrubs in the genus Prunus, known for their fleshy stone fruits and showy spring blossoms. The fruit is a drupe with a single seed, used fresh, cooked, or processed.
What it is
Cherry refers to several species within Prunus, a genus in the rose family Rosaceae. The name can describe the plant, its fruit, its flowers, or its wood. The two main commercial types are sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and sour or tart cherry (Prunus cerasus). Sweet cherries are typically eaten fresh, while sour cherries go into preserves, sauces, and baked goods.
Why it matters
Cherries are widely cultivated for food, as ornamental flowering trees, and for their timber. Ornamental cherries are prized for their profuse spring blossoms. In Canada, cherry trees are a significant orchard crop in British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec, and are also common as decorative trees in urban and suburban landscapes.
Key details
Cherry fruit is a fleshy drupe with a single hard seed (stone). Some varieties are grown mainly for their flowers, not fruit. Cherry wood is dark red and valued for fine furniture. Related plants include plums, peaches, apricots, and almonds, all in the genus Prunus.
In short
- Cherry is a stone fruit from Prunus trees, mainly sweet or sour types.
- Sweet cherries are eaten fresh; sour cherries are used in cooking.
- Ornamental cherries are grown for blossoms, not fruit.
- Cherry wood is prized for furniture; trees grow in temperate Canada.
Cherry trees are widely grown in Canada as orchard fruit and ornamental flowering trees, especially in temperate regions of British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec.
Quick questions
What kind of fruit is a cherry?
Are cherry blossoms the same as fruit cherries?
What are the main types of cherries?
Sources
- 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.