Growing traditional sweet cherry trees, such as ‘Bing’ or ‘Rainier,’ in Florida is difficult, but success is possible with specialized varieties and alternatives. The state’s high heat and persistent humidity create an environment that is largely incompatible with standard temperate-climate fruit trees. These traditional cherry varieties require a prolonged period of winter cold that Florida cannot provide. Gardeners must instead focus on newer, low-chill cultivars or substitute various tropical fruit species often called “cherries” that are better adapted to the subtropical conditions.
The Critical Role of Chill Hours
The primary obstacle to growing temperate fruit trees like cherries in Florida is the lack of sufficient “chill hours.” A chill hour is defined as one hour where the ambient temperature is between 32°F and 45°F (0°C and 7°C) during winter dormancy. This cold period is a biological necessity that allows the tree to properly break dormancy and set fruit buds for the following spring.
Traditional sweet cherry varieties require a chilling accumulation of 800 to 1,200 hours to ensure a reliable harvest. Central and South Florida experience fewer cold hours, with many areas receiving less than 150 to 200 chill hours annually. Northwest Florida, the coolest part of the state, may accumulate 500 to 700 hours in an average year, but this is still insufficient for standard cultivars.
Without adequate chilling, the trees fail to exit dormancy uniformly, resulting in delayed leaf-out and scattered flowering, and a poor fruit set. The lack of dormancy also weakens the tree, making it more susceptible to common Florida issues like root rot, fungal diseases, and pests. This physiological requirement represents the fundamental environmental barrier preventing the widespread cultivation of most temperate cherry varieties.
Low-Chill Cherry Varieties and Alternatives
Growers must select plants bred specifically for low-chill environments or choose tropical species that thrive in the heat and humidity. True sweet cherry varieties, such as ‘Minnie Royal,’ ‘Royal Lee,’ and ‘Royal Crimson,’ require a lower chill accumulation, often in the 200 to 300 hour range. These cultivars are the only practical option for North and Central Florida, where minimum cold hours are more likely to be met. ‘Minnie Royal’ and ‘Royal Lee’ require cross-pollination to produce fruit reliably and are often planted together.
Several tropical plants are popularly known as “cherries” in Florida and perform well across the entire state. The Barbados Cherry (Malpighia emarginata) is a semi-evergreen shrub that produces small, bright red, tart fruits with a high Vitamin C content. It is well-suited for all of Florida and fruits multiple times throughout the year.
The Surinam Cherry (Eugenia uniflora) yields glossy, pumpkin-shaped fruits that transition from orange to dark red or purple when ripe. While productive, it is considered an invasive plant in South Florida and should be planted with caution or avoided. Grumichama (Eugenia brasiliensis) is an option for Zone 9B and warmer, producing small, dark purple fruits that many describe as having a flavor profile similar to a true sweet cherry.
Essential Care for Florida Cherry Trees
Successful cultivation of low-chill cherries and their alternatives in Florida requires attention to soil, fertilization, and disease prevention. Florida’s native soils are typically sandy and nutrient-poor; they drain quickly but do not retain nutrients effectively. To combat this, growers should amend the planting site with organic matter, such as compost or aged manure, to improve water retention and provide a steady source of slow-release nutrients.
The high heat and humidity create conditions favorable for fungal diseases, such as leaf spot and root rot, especially in low-chill cherry trees. Proper air circulation and well-drained soil are the first defense, but a preventative fungicide application may be necessary, particularly during the wet season. For fertilization, a balanced granular fertilizer designed for fruit trees, lower in nitrogen than potassium (like 8-3-9), should be applied three to four times a year, starting in early spring.
Pruning is important, especially for low-chill sweet cherries. Pruning, ideally done in the winter while the tree is dormant, helps manage the canopy size for easier harvesting and promotes better air circulation, which helps mitigate fungal issues. In North Florida, some growers manually remove any remaining leaves in mid-December to ensure the tree enters a proper, if brief, state of dormancy, which can encourage a more uniform bud break.