Non-fruiting cherry trees

[taperface]

Eight year's ago I sent for a non-fruiting cherry tree from an offer on a cereal packet. For two year's, the tree seemed dormant, and then took off with a vengeance. This summer, it suddenly produced two sweet cherries, after a wealth of beautiful pink blossom appeared. Now someone tells me that the tree is going to grow to a huge height, but it's close to my house. Anyone have any info?

[alan30]

Do you have any more info, name or variety of the cherry? Not unusual for trees do do nothng for first few years depending on the original planting size as their root systems can take this time to properly establish. There are so many cherry hybrids and varieties it is difficult to say. Some are very poor vigour or do not seed true to form ( the parent seed does not develop into a true copy of the parent plant) and can be grafted or budded. Basically the top of the tree retains the desirable characteristics you want, flowers or fruit, and the root stock is better suited to ground conditions or climate. The trouble with budding or grafting is that the tree can 'revert' to the root stock characteristics so the top or part of the top displays the characterisitcs of the root type. If a tree is on a vigourous root stock, for example wild cherry, then what you are seeing could be the original wild cherry. That grows fast and can get to over 100 feet; a beautiful tree in the right place! Not saying this is the case here without further info but it could explain things?

[taperface]

Thank you Alan. I'm afraid I know no more other than my tree IS supposed to be a wild cherry - but non-fruiting! However, as aforesaid, it produced just two (very pleasant) red cherries earlier in the year. The tree stands roughly 8 ft. tall at the moment. The blossom was all over it, and from what I remember, once this had died, lovely reddish furls were left in its place before the meagre fruit offering was spotted. I love trees - but 100ft? Oh dear! Can I stunt the growth by pruning the main branches down? Thank you very much.

[alan30]

Having difficulty tracking down a non fruiting wild cherry at the moment. If it is the true wild cherry then on the right site it is fast growing. I have carried out many planting schemes and wild cherry has often been the most vigorous tree in the species mix. You can manage the size by regular pruning but I would question if you are not better to select an alternative tree species, or variety of cherry if you want cherry. An immediate replacement at 8' is easily obtainable at most nurseries. You could start with the RHS plant selector http://www.rhs.org.uk/rhsplantselector/index.a spx if you need to search by various criteria and then narrow it down with a local nursery.

[taperface]

Thank you. It's given me something to consider.