I have two cherry trees (both some type of black cherry) that I planted several years ago. I had the tags on the trees initially, but they have since been lost.
What are the steps to identifying a cherry variety?
I am ok with waiting through an entire growing season (if foliage, fruit, etc. all need to be observed) to complete this process. I would just like to know what the process is.
Additionally, I am ok with having to submit samples for DNA analysis (if things get that complicated). I am just clueless on where to begin.
Thank you in advance for all responses –I will definitely be sure not to be so careless in the future and keep the labeling tags on hand!
I bought them at a local garden center that is no longer in business. I remember buying 4 different types of edible cherry trees (all sweet, I believe). One tree was definitely “Bing” but I gave that one to my parents. My parents also got one other tree, and I kept the remaining two cherry trees….so I guess all I can say is “I’m pretty sure neither of them are Bing". Really, that is all I have to go off of.
Do you have a picture of the fruit? My guess (and I do mean guess!) is this is a dark variety of a sweet cherry. Some common dark cherries could be Ulster, Black Pearl, hedelfigen, Van, black tartarian, etc.
If you know it wasn’t a specialty store, and it was in the United States, and it was bought sometime in the later 2000s, it narrows potential options
Yes, it was bought around 2020 from a Garden Center (mom and pop place, not a “big box” store). I do not have a picture of the fruit, but I will do so this upcoming summer. Are there any other features of the tree that you would need to properly identify it? As I said, I am willing to go through an entire growing season in order to collect the proper characteristics for identification.
@Jose-Albacete is the legend when it comes to cherries and may be able to help you with identification.
My guess is if you want to know 100%, the only way is DNA analysis. If you want to know 75%, then I would take pictures of the fruit and note their size and taste and time and cross reference to a small catalogue of likely candidates from retailers nearby and online.
Robert, we have some interesting information.
You’re from Delaware, so it’s likely a variety adapted to the North.
If you were in Spain, I can assure you that identification would be impossible since there’s a huge amount of varieties available for enthusiasts, but in the United States, you don’t have a wide range of varieties for sale, so there’s a chance of identifying it. It would be helpful to know the flowering and ripening dates, and photos of the fruit from various angles with the stem attached (the stem provides many clues about the variety).
If you have an identified cherry tree nearby, it would be useful to know the start and end dates of flowering respect of the identified variety.
Thank you, Jose! This is very promising. I will collect this information and get back to you in a few months through private message (it is still cold here and nothing is waking up yet). Thank you for your help in advance!