| There are only a few instances in the | | | | hybridize the desirable genes of this |
| ancient historical record concerning | | | | cherry into existing clones of |
| cherry trees. This absence in the record | | | | commercial cherry cultivars. The problem |
| perhaps resulted in the fragile nature | | | | with this native cherry tree is that all |
| and perishability of the fruit, unlike | | | | parts of the tree and fruit contain the |
| the fruit from the apple tree. There are | | | | deadly toxin cyanogens, which have |
| strong suggestions that the cherry tree | | | | caused death and illness to children |
| originated in the territories of Asia | | | | from cyanide poisoning in the fruit, |
| Minor near the Black Sea and the Caspian | | | | even though birds don't appear to be |
| Sea. Other suggestions that the cherry | | | | affected from eating the fruit. |
| trees were used in the Greek and Roman | | | | Cherry trees in orchard situations grow |
| cultures come from literary historians, | | | | 10 to 15 feet tall to manage the fruit |
| and it appears that cherry wood from the | | | | harvesting properly, even though the can |
| trees of cherry was important in many | | | | grow to 30 feet if not pruned. Cherry |
| professional applications for the | | | | trees are very cold hardy down to |
| ancients. | | | | negative 20 degrees Fahrenheit, and |
| Among the fruit seeds that were sent in | | | | require approximately one thousand or |
| 1628 to the settlement at Plymouth, | | | | more chill hours for an abundant fruit |
| Massachusetts, by the Massachusetts bay | | | | set. Pollination is not a great problem |
| Colony were cherry, peach , plum, | | | | with cherry tree production. Rootstock |
| filbert, apple, quince, and pomegranate | | | | selection for cherry trees is "Mazzard," |
| and "according to accounts, they sprung | | | | Prunus mahaleb, or "Gisela" or the |
| up and flourished." | | | | recent Geissen, German rootstocks. |
| William Bartram found bird cherry, | | | | The principal cherry commercial fruits |
| Prunus padus, growing near Augusta, | | | | grown in the United States are the sour |
| Georgia in 1773 as reported in his book, | | | | cherries, Prunus cerasus L., that make |
| Travels, when he was taking an inventory | | | | up 99% of all production. These cherries |
| of plants growing in the South after the | | | | are important in baking cherry pies and |
| Spaniards abandoned and ceded the land | | | | cherry tarts, as well as in frozen fruit |
| to the English. | | | | packs or in canning. |
| Luther Burbank, two centuries later, | | | | The most famous sour cherry is the |
| believed that the bird cherry should be | | | | "Maraschino" cherry that is used in |
| incorporated into the parentage of | | | | cherry pies, cakes, juices, jams, |
| future cherry hybrids, because it was | | | | jellies, mixed drinks, ice cream, and a |
| the most cold hardy cherry known; with | | | | host of other ways. This cherry is |
| its heavy bearing characteristics and | | | | bright red in color and commonly seen on |
| its immunity to most insect and disease | | | | grocery store shelves in clear glass |
| problems of the cherry trees already in | | | | jars and bottles. |
| commercial pipelines, it was the | | | | Sweet cherry cultivars, Prunus avium L., |
| hardiest cherry tree yet. | | | | are increasingly in demand and sold at |
| In 1847, Henderson Lewelling brought to | | | | U.S. markets. Bing cherries are well |
| Oregon in a covered wagon "cherry trees, | | | | known as a fresh fruit item. This cherry |
| apples, pear, plum, and quince." | | | | is dark purple-red and is firm and has |
| Luther Burbank, in his extensive book, | | | | excellent shipping qualities. Other |
| Fruit Improvement in 1922, combined | | | | important sweet cherries are 'Napoleon' |
| characteristics from the Sand cherry | | | | and 'Ranier,' a USDA release that is |
| tree, Prunus besseyi, with the American | | | | bright red with yellow undertones in the |
| plum, Prunus chickasaw, and the Japanese | | | | background. The Lambert cherry is good |
| plum, Prunus triflora, that ripened in | | | | to use in canning as is the Stella. The |
| California around mid-August. Burbank | | | | Black Tartarian cherry is a sweet cherry |
| described the fruit as deep crimson in | | | | commonly available from mailorder and |
| color, transparent flesh, rich sweet | | | | internet catalogs. |
| flavor, juicy and firm with a strong | | | | Cherries are rated high in antioxidant |
| resemblance of the parental form of the | | | | levels that offer great health benefits |
| American plum, Prunus chickasaw. This | | | | such as treating Gout. Many internet |
| cherry-plum hybrid was able to withstand | | | | sites promote fresh cherry consumption |
| the cold and rigorous climatic | | | | as being the miracle cure and fast |
| conditions, even to the Dakotas. | | | | recovery from attacks of Gout. Some |
| Professor N.E. Hansen of the South | | | | internet sites offer concentrated cherry |
| Dakota Experiment Station developed and | | | | extracts and powders of dried cherries |
| improved the Sand cherry, Prunus | | | | as a cure. Cherries offer other health |
| besseyi, that was marketed as the | | | | benefits in their high content of |
| "Improved Dwarf Rocky Mountain Cherry," | | | | Vitamin A, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, |
| with fruit growing as large as the | | | | Vitamin C, Niacin, and the minerals |
| Richmond cherry. Luther Burbank argued | | | | Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, and |
| in his 1922 book, Fruit Improvement page | | | | Potassium. |
| 149, that this Sand cherry tree was more | | | | Japanese flowering cherry trees are the |
| truly a plum tree. | | | | most widely adapted and popular |
| Cherries are usually marketed with the | | | | flowering tree growing in the United |
| stem still attached to the fruit. When | | | | States today. The multi-colored flowers |
| canned or preserved, the stems are | | | | of Yoshino cherry, Prunux x yodoensis, |
| customarily removed from the cherry. | | | | and Kwanzan cherry are seen early in the |
| Hybridizers such as Luther Burbank | | | | season, and the buds open into clusters |
| concentrated on improving several | | | | of abundant, long lasting flowers that |
| characteristics that were important in | | | | dominate the landscape of our nation's |
| marketing the fruit: the size, color, | | | | capitol , Washington, D.C. Japanese |
| flavor, and sweetness. Burbank produced | | | | flowering cherry trees Prunus serrulata |
| one cultivar so rich in sugar and it | | | | 'Kwanzan' were planted in Washington |
| hung on the tree, instead of the rapid | | | | D.C. as a gift of the Japanese people to |
| decay, after ripening on the tree as | | | | American citizens, largely through the |
| experienced with most cherry cultivars. | | | | efforts of President Taft's wife, the |
| Cold hardiness was considered to be very | | | | first lady. Thousands of these Japanese |
| important in cherry tree hybridization | | | | cherry trees were planted, and many |
| and Burbank used the bird cherry, Prunus | | | | tourists flock to the Capitol in the |
| pennsylvanica, that had withstood | | | | spring to experience that flowering |
| temperatures of negative 60 degrees | | | | extravaganza. Cherry blossom festivals, |
| Fahrenheit near Hudson Bay as one parent | | | | celebrations, and get-togethers are held |
| of the cherry hybrid, since it was | | | | yearly in cities throughout the country, |
| considered to be the most cold hardy of | | | | when cherry trees are in flower to crown |
| all cherry trees. In considering the | | | | "Cherry Queens" and to schedule beauty |
| many disease and insect problems that | | | | pageants. |
| cherries experienced, Burbank suggested | | | | The most popular Japanese flowering |
| that hybridizers concentrate on breeding | | | | cherry trees are Prunus serrulata |
| immunity genes into cherries to bypass | | | | 'Kwanzan'; Akebono Cherry, Prunus x |
| "spraying and gassing." Burbank is | | | | yedoensis 'Akebono'; Weeping Japenese |
| greatly admired for his strong | | | | Cherry, Prunus subhirtella var. pendula; |
| environmental stand by modern day | | | | Takesimensis cherry, Prunus |
| conservationists. | | | | takesimensis; Usuzeumi Cherry, Prunus |
| The common wild black cherry, Prunus | | | | spachiana f. ascendens; Autumn Flowering |
| serotina, is found growing in most of | | | | Cherry, Prunus subhirtella var. |
| Eastern North America. The small | | | | autumnalis; Sargent Cherry, Prunus |
| cherries are grown in great abundance | | | | sargentii; Fugenzo Cherry, Prunus |
| and are reliably produced in large | | | | serrulata 'Fugenzo' and Okame Cherry, |
| crops, even in the coldest regions of | | | | Prunus 'Okame'. |
| the United States. There are efforts to | | | | |