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Prunus cerasus 'Montmorency'
Montmorency Cherry
Southeastern Europe, southwest Asia (species)
Overview
Prunus cerasus 'Montmorency' is a sour (tart) cherry cultivar of French origin first documented in the Montmorency Valley north of Paris in the 1600s. Trees on standard rootstock reach 180-240 inches (4.5-6 m) tall and 180-216 inches (4.5-5.5 m) wide; on Gisela or Mahaleb dwarfing rootstocks they reach 96-144 inches (2.4-3.6 m). Round fruit 0.6-0.8 inch (1.5-2 cm) across with bright red skin, yellow flesh, and clear juice. Sugar content 12-15 °Brix balanced by malic acid producing the tart flavor characteristic of pie cherries. Ripens late June through mid July depending on zone. Self-fertile — single trees produce fruit without a cross-pollinator. White flowers 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) across in mid spring with the leaves. Medium green leaves 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, smaller than those of P. avium, with serrated margins. Hardier than sweet cherry — survives in USDA zone 4. Cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella jaapii), brown rot (Monilinia fructicola), and plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) are the principal pest pressures. Bird damage occurs at the start of fruit color change. Lifespan 20-30 years. Zones 4-9.
Native Range
The species P. cerasus is native to southeastern Europe and southwest Asia, likely a hybrid of P. avium and P. fruticosa that arose in cultivation. The cultivar 'Montmorency' originated in the Montmorency Valley north of Paris in the 1600s and was introduced to North America in the 1700s.Suggested Uses
Grown in home orchards, small commercial plantings, and edible landscapes at 144-180 inch (3.6-4.5 m) spacing on standard rootstock in zones 4-9. Self-fertile. Fruit is used in pies, preserves, juice, and processing rather than fresh eating because of the tart flavor.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height15' - 20'
Width/Spread15' - 18'
Reaches mature size in approximately 8 years
Bloom Information
White flowers 0.75-1 inch (2-2.5 cm) across in mid spring (April-May depending on zone), opening with leaf emergence. Bloom lasts 7-10 days. Self-fertile — single trees set fruit without a pollinator. Bloom is 7-14 days later than sweet cherry, reducing late spring frost loss in cold zones.Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Medium green, smaller than sweet cherry, serrated; yellow in fallGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Full sun (6+ hours). Loam, sandy loam, or clay loam soils with pH 6.0-7.5 and good drainage; tolerates a wider range of sites than sweet cherry. Water deeply weekly during establishment; mature trees tolerate 2-3 weeks without rain. Cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella jaapii) defoliates trees in wet midsummers and reduces winter hardiness; fungicide programs target the post-bloom period. Plum curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) and brown rot (Monilinia fructicola) are common in the eastern United States. Hardy to USDA zone 4, surviving winter low temperatures to -30°F (-34°C). Zones 4-9.Pruning
Prune in late winter to early spring before bud break. Train to a modified central leader with 5-7 scaffold branches spaced vertically. Sour cherry fruits on lateral buds of one-year-old wood and on short spurs; thin out older unproductive wood every 3-4 years to encourage new fruiting wood. Remove dead, crossing, and inward-growing branches annually.Pruning Schedule
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winterearly spring