Cherry Trees in Florida

Weeping Higan Cherry

• Weeping higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella Pendula) is a popular ornamental tree in Florida and grows to a mature height of up to 30 feet with a 15- to 25-foot spread. The glossy green foliage of the tree retains its color well into fall and the light pink, 1-inch-diameter flowers appear on the deciduous tree before the foliage in spring. The tree is used as a specimen and shade tree and has a fast growth rate. The fine-textured weeping higan cherry grows best in areas of full sun and a variety of soil types including clay, sand and well-drained ground. The tree has a moderate tolerance for drought and is susceptible to aphids.

Cherry Laurel

• Cherry laurel (Prunus caroliniana) is an evergreen tree with a mature height of 20 to 40 feet. The tree is native to North America and thrives in the rich, moist soils from North Carolina to Florida and westward from Louisiana to Texas. The alternate, glossy foliage is 2 to 4 inches long and the fragrant, 2- to 3-inch-wide, white flower racemes bloom in late winter to early spring. The tree is sensitive to alkaline soils and established trees are drought-tolerant. Cherry laurel trees grow best in areas of sun but are also moderately tolerant of shade. The tree is hardy in USDA zones 7 to 9 and easy to propagate with seed.

Wild Cherry

• Wild cherry (Prunus serotina) is also referred to as black cherry or rum cherry and is among the common eastern North American trees from southern Canada to Central Florida. The long-lived tree has a fast growth, achieving a mature height of up to 60 feet. The lance-shaped to oval foliage is 2 to 6 inches long and dark green and a profusion of fragrant, small white flowers clusters bloom in early spring. The dark red, near-black cherries are about 0.33 inch in diameter and are ready to harvest in early summer. The juicy fruit is thin-skinned with a slight bitter aftertaste.