Prunus avium Piemont - Wild Cherry

The Piemont Dwarf Cherry Tree combines many qualities. In spring, it adorns itself with a beautiful white flowering, both decorative and useful for bees. These flowers then evolve into beautiful bright red cherries, good for harvesting in June-July. Sweet and slightly acidic, fragrant and reasonably firm, they make delicious summer desserts or appetizing jams. Very hardy, this Cherry Tree will find its place on any balcony or terrace, in a sunny location, thanks to its compact dimensions. Self-fertile, it will produce fruit without requiring another nearby tree. It can also be planted in the garden to provide beautiful harvests for the whole family.

Prunus avium, commonly known as Wild Cherry or Bird Cherry, belongs to the large family of Rosaceae, which gives us most of our fruit trees (Pear trees, Apple trees, Peach trees, Plum trees...), numerous ornamental plants (Rose, Serviceberry, Cinquefoil...) as well as wild plants. It is native to Europe since the Neolithic period (New Stone Age), Western Asia and North Africa. A long-time companion of the human species, the Wild Cherry has been cultivated for its fruit since the 4th century BC.
The 'Piemont' mini-Cherry Tree enriches the palette of dwarf fruit trees. This miniature tree rarely exceeds 1.80m (6ft) in height and 1.10m (4ft) in width. Its moderately spreading habit, with a more or less oval shape, gives it an elegant silhouette. Cultivated in a pot, it requires little space to thrive, making it a perfect plant for living spaces such as balconies, terraces or patios. Its deciduous foliage is composed of alternate, obovate and toothed leaves, measuring 5 to 6cm (2in) in length. With a beautiful bright green colour, the leaves are numerous and form a dense vegetation. The semi-late flowering occurs between March and mid-April, before the appearance of leaves, which can expose it to late spring frosts. The pure white flowers, single, measuring 2 to 3cm (1in) in diameter, are grouped in clusters. They can be destroyed by frost from -2 to -3 °C (28.4 to 26.6°F), so it is recommended to plant cherry trees in a sheltered location, facing west and protected from cold winds in regions that experience late frosts. Very decorative in spring, the flowers of this self-fertile variety do not need to be pollinated by another variety planted nearby. However, if this is the case, it tends to improve fruit production quantitatively. It is also a useful plant for bees that will come to collect its nectar.
The fertilized flowers evolve into medium-sized cherries, about 2cm (1in) in diameter. When ripe in June-July, they turn a beautiful bright red, with a very attractive shiny surface. Fragrant, they have a moderately firm flesh, slightly juicy, sweet and slightly acidic at the same time. They can be consumed fresh, or used to make juice or jam to enjoy later in the year. This variety has good productivity and will give you beautiful harvests despite the limited size of your tree.
This hardy tree, which can tolerate temperatures around -20 °C (-4°F), is suitable for cultivation in all regions of France. It should be given a sunny location, possibly partially shaded in the hot southern regions. In the ground, it accepts most fertile, well-drained but moist soils. When grown in a pot, it will need regular watering, allowing the substrate to dry out between waterings.

The 'Piemont' Dwarf Cherry Tree offers the joy of harvesting your own fruit even without a garden. Dwarf fruit trees are among those pleasure plants that allow you to create a comforting green cocoon even on a simple balcony. If you have a slightly larger terrace or patio, you can create a mini-orchard with other lilliputian fruit trees like the Peach Tree Dwarf Fruit Me Peach Me Yellow. With its long, beautiful green leaves and orange fruits, this miniature tree is just as pleasing to the eye as to the palate. The 'Red Sensation' Columnar Apple Tree will delight you with its beautiful red fruits in late September, and if you prefer pears, the 'Garden Gem' Dwarf Pear Tree will charm you with its yellow fruits turning red, with a melting and sweet flesh.