The hardy cherry varieties will thrive if they are planted in a protected location and the right conditions for growth are met. Cherries like moisture but WILL NOT TOLERATE POORLY DRAINED SOILS OR EXCESSIVE WATERING. Don't plant your cherry on a new lawn that you will be irrigating frequently as the roots will not have time to dry out between waterings and the plant will do very poorly.

Many of the cherry varieties are self fruitful, so a pollinator is not required. Those that require cross pollination will also act as pollinators for each other and for plums and apricots provided that the plants bloom at the same time. Plant your plants in similar conditions in order to encourage them to bloom at the same time. Pollination requirements are contained in the plant descriptions.

Name	Zone	Uses	Size	Taste	Description
CHOKECHERRY	1	E,C,JA,W	Small	Astrin- gent	This native plant produces an abundance of small black cherries. Two plants should be planted for cross pollination. A MUCH SOUGHT AFTER PRAIRIE TREAT!
MONGOLIAN CHERRY	3	C,JA,W	Medium	Tart	This bush cherry produces dark red fruit. Bush grows to a height of about 1.5m (5 feet) and is very ornamental. Two plants should be planted for pollination. MAKES DELICIOUS JAM!.
NANKING CHERRY	1	E,C,JA,W	Medium	Sweet	Bush grows to a height of 1.5m. Plant two Nanking cherries for pollination. May be used as pollinators for apricots and early blooming plums (Pollination group #1). KIDS LOVE THIS CHERRY FOR SNACKING!
BLACK NANKING CHERRY	1	E,C,JA,W	Medium	Sweet	Black fruit is larger than the fruit of the regular Nanking cherry. Requires cross pollination. Plant grows to about 1.5m (5 feet). VERY TASTY!
PINCHERRY	1	C,JA,W	Small	Tart	A native fruit that produces small bright red, tart cherries. Two are required for pollination. They may pollinate some of the late blooming plums. The named varieties, Jumping Pound and Mary Liss have been selected for their larger fruit size. VERY POPULAR WITH PRAIRIE JAM MAKERS!
SANDCHERRY	1	C,JA,W	Medium	Semi-sweet	Dark red-black fruit. Grows to about 1m in height and 3m in diameter. It is often used as a pollinator for late plum varieties. WONDERFUL FOR JAMS!
SEROTINA (BLACK CHERRY)	3	C,JA,W	Small	Semi-sweet	Small black fruit. Grows to about 3m in height. May be marginal in some areas.

Key to Variety Chart