History of the Cherry Tree

Ancient Origins

Cherry trees likely originated in Asia Minor near the Black and Caspian Seas. Greek/Roman literature mentions cherry wood for professional uses. Fragile fruit left few early records.

Arrival in America

1628: Massachusetts Bay Colony sent cherry, peach, plum, apple, etc., to Plymouth—"they sprung up and flourished."

1773: William Bartram found bird cherry (Prunus padus) near Augusta, GA.

Breeding Advances

Luther Burbank (1922): Combined sand cherry (P. besseyi), American plum (P. chickasaw), Japanese plum (P. triflora) for cold-hardy, sweet, firm cherry-plum hybrid (survives Dakotas).

Prof. N.E. Hansen: Improved sand cherry to "Improved Dwarf Rocky Mountain Cherry" (large fruit). Burbank argued it's more plum than cherry.

Commercial Production

Orchard trees kept 10–15 ft (pruned); cold-hardy to -20°F; need 1000+ chill hours. Rootstocks: Mazzard, Mahaleb, Gisela, Geissen.

Sour cherries (P. cerasus) = 99% US production (pies, canning, frozen). Maraschino = famous bright red sour cherry.

Sweet cherries (P. avium) rising: Bing (dark, firm, ships well), Napoleon, Rainier (USDA, red-yellow), Lambert (canning), Stella, Black Tartarian (mail-order).

Health Benefits

High antioxidants treat gout. Rich in Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, niacin; minerals Ca, P, Fe, K.

Flowering Cherries

Japanese flowering cherries (Yoshino, Kwanzan) dominate Washington, D.C. (gift from Japan, 1912). Spring festivals nationwide. Popular cultivars: Kwanzan, Akebono, Weeping, Takesimensis, Usuzeumi, Autumn, Sargent, Fugenzo, Okame.