Identifying a specific cherry tree is complex because the name encompasses hundreds of species and cultivars, all belonging to the vast Prunus genus. This botanical family also includes plums, peaches, and almonds, which share many structural characteristics. Accurate identification requires careful, seasonal analysis of key features, including the flowers, the fruit, and the overall woody structure of the tree. Starting with the tree’s intended purpose helps narrow down the possibilities.
Identifying the Tree’s Purpose Fruiting vs Flowering
The most immediate distinction is whether the tree was bred for edible fruit or for purely ornamental blossoms. Flowering cherry trees, such as Japanese Cherries, are grown for their spectacular, dense spring bloom. These ornamental varieties typically produce minimal or no fruit, or the small drupes they do produce are inedible. Fruiting cherries are cultivated specifically for a substantial harvest of palatable fruit, and their flowers tend to be less dense and more short-lived.
Fruiting varieties, primarily Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus, focus energy on fruit production, resulting in a less massive bloom scattered across the branches. Ornamental trees, such as Prunus serrulata cultivars, are bred to maximize the floral display, leading to an overwhelming blanket of blossoms that lasts longer. If the tree produces a large quantity of plump, edible cherries, it is a fruiting variety. If it produces a cloud-like mass of flowers followed by only a few tiny, quickly dropping fruits, it is an ornamental type.
Identifying Fruiting Varieties
Once confirmed as a fruiting tree, the next step is to differentiate between the two main categories of edible cherries: Sweet Cherries (Prunus avium) and Sour Cherries (Prunus cerasus). Sweet cherries, like ‘Bing’ or ‘Rainier’ cultivars, are typically larger, heart-shaped, and enjoyed fresh due to their high sugar content. Their trees are generally tall and upright, reaching heights of 30 to 35 feet at maturity. Most sweet cherry varieties require a cross-pollinator—a second, compatible cherry tree planted nearby—to produce a crop.
Sour cherries, often called tart or pie cherries, are smaller, rounder, and have a distinctly acidic flavor, making them ideal for baking and preserves. The ‘Montmorency’ cultivar is the most common example. Sour cherry trees are significantly smaller and bushier than sweet cherries, typically growing to 15 to 20 feet. The majority of sour varieties are self-fertile, meaning a single tree can produce a full harvest without a companion. Sour cherries are also more cold-hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 4 through 6, while sweet cherries are generally limited to Zones 5 through 7.
Identifying Common Flowering Varieties
Identifying flowering varieties requires close examination of the blossoms and the tree’s growth pattern, as many ornamental cultivars are complex hybrids. The Yoshino cherry (Prunus x yedoensis) is the most widely planted, known for its delicate, single-petaled flowers that are nearly white, often with a faint pink blush. These trees are characterized by an elegant, wide-spreading, and rounded canopy, and are typically among the first to bloom in the spring. Their light bloom creates the famous “white cloud” effect seen in many spring festivals.
In contrast, the Kwanzan cherry (Prunus serrulata ‘Kwanzan’) blooms later, typically about two weeks after the Yoshino. It is easily distinguished by its dramatic, deep-pink, double-petaled blossoms. Each flower cluster is heavy and dense, with more than 30 petals per bloom, giving the appearance of miniature roses. The Kwanzan tree has a distinct, upright, and somewhat vase-shaped growth habit with stiff, ascending branches.
The Weeping Higan cherry (Prunus subhirtella) is recognized by its cascading, pendulous branches that sweep toward the ground. Its flowers are usually single or semi-double and vary in color from dark pink to pure white. The Higan cherry is also noted for being one of the earliest to flower, often beginning its bloom a week before the Yoshino. These three varieties cover the majority of ornamental cherries encountered in landscapes, and their distinct bloom time, flower structure, and shape provide reliable identification markers.
Using Bark Leaf and Structure for Confirmation
After observing the flowers and fruit, confirming the tree’s identity relies on analyzing persistent physical markers found on the bark, leaves, and overall structure. All members of the Prunus genus share a characteristic bark feature: the presence of horizontal lenticels, which appear as small, elongated lines or pores running across the trunk. The bark color varies from reddish-brown to grayish-brown, and on some species, like the Tibetan Cherry (Prunus serrula), it can be glossy and peel in attractive strips.
Cherry tree leaves are uniformly simple, arranged alternately along the stem, and have a distinct oval or lance shape with a sharp tip. The edge of the leaf, known as the margin, is always serrated or finely toothed. A distinguishing feature of the Prunus genus is the presence of small glands or nectaries, which can often be found on the petiole, the stalk connecting the leaf blade to the branch.
The final structural clue is the tree’s shape, which remains year-round. Most mature cherry trees, especially fruiting and Yoshino types, develop a spreading, umbrella-like canopy that is wider than it is tall. Combining the evidence of the bark’s lenticels, the leaf’s serrated margin, and the specific shape of the crown provides the most accurate path to identifying the specific cherry tree variety.