How to Grow Black Heart Cherry
Wikimedia Commons
Black Heart Cherry
Prunus avium 'Black Heart'
treeBlack Heart is a classic sweet cherry variety known for its dark purple-black fruit with firm, juicy flesh and rich, sweet flavor. This vigorous tree produces abundant crops and has been a favorite since the 1600s. It grows as a medium to large tree suitable for home orchards and commercial production.
When should you plant Black Heart Cherry in your zone?
Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.
Example Black Heart Cherry timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
-
Plant Black Heart Cherry
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
-
Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
-
Harvest Black Heart Cherry
Late summer into fallBefore the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Black Heart Cherry dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 5-8, with good performance in zone 9
Sign up free to see if Black Heart Cherry grows in your zone — and get a personalized planting timeline.
Get my Black Heart Cherry timeline →Growth Stages
Establishment
First 2-3 yearsYoung tree with developing root system and primary scaffold branches forming
Stake tree for support, keep well-watered, remove competing branches, mulch generously. Prune to establish strong central leader or open vase form.
Vegetative Growth
Years 2-4Rapid branch and canopy expansion with vigorous shoots; first light flowering may appear
Continue structural pruning, thin shoots to avoid crowding, fertilize in early spring, maintain consistent watering
Flowering
2-3 weeks in early springAbundant white blossoms appear in early spring (April) before or as leaves emerge
Provide pollinator access (needs compatible sweet cherry pollinizer like Bing or Napoleon). Protect from late frosts if possible. Do not heavily prune during this stage.
Fruit Development
4-6 weeks from floweringSmall green fruits develop rapidly, enlarging and darkening from red to deep purple-black over 4-6 weeks
Thin fruit to 6-8 inches apart if overcrowded (optional, improves size). Maintain consistent watering; irregular moisture causes fruit splitting. Monitor for pest damage.
Harvest
Late June to July (varies by region)Dark purple-black fruits reach full ripeness with peak sugar content and juiciness
Harvest when fully dark (not blushed red) for best flavor. Pick with stems attached if possible. Handle gently to avoid bruising. Stagger harvests over 1-3 weeks.
Companion Planting
Plan your garden →Plant with:
Avoid planting near:
Common Pests
-
Yellow sticky traps, reflective tape, insect netting over ripening fruit, clean up fallen fruit immediately
-
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap in early season, encourage natural predators (ladybugs, lacewings)
-
Remove infested branches, maintain tree vigor with proper watering and pruning, plant health sanitation
-
Hand-pick early morning, use pheromone traps away from tree, neem oil applications
-
Remove infected flowers/fruit, prune for airflow, avoid overhead irrigation, apply sulfur or copper fungicide at bloom
Uses
Fresh eating and desserts
CulinaryBlack Heart cherries are premium sweet cherries ideal for eating fresh, adding to fruit salads, pies, and cakes. Their firm flesh and rich flavor make them prized for culinary use. [source]
Preserves and dried fruit
CulinaryThe high sugar content and firm texture make Black Heart excellent for jams, preserves, and drying. Dried Black Heart cherries rival commercial varieties. [source]
Anthocyanins and antioxidants
MedicinalThe dark pigmentation indicates high levels of anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants associated with reduced inflammation and improved sleep quality when consumed fresh or as juice. [source]
Wildlife food source
WildlifeThe abundant fruit production supports birds and beneficial insects. Early spring blossoms are an important nectar source for pollinators. [source]
Ornamental landscape value
HouseholdBeyond fruit production, Black Heart offers spring beauty with abundant white blossoms and attractive summer foliage, making it a dual-purpose ornamental and fruit tree. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Black Heart cherries ripen in late June to early July depending on location. Pick when fully dark purple-black (never while still blushed red) for maximum sweetness. Harvest by gently twisting fruit with the stem attached, or clip stems with pruners to avoid branch damage. Cherries do not ripen further after picking. Stagger harvests every 2-3 days over the harvest season. Handle fruit carefully as it bruises easily. Refrigerate promptly at 32-40°F for storage; use within 2-3 weeks.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Black Heart was developed in Europe and recorded as a named variety by the 1600s, making it one of the oldest documented sweet cherry cultivars still in cultivation today.
- 🌱 Black Heart cherries require a compatible pollinator variety (such as Bing or Napoleon) to produce fruit, and a single tree will not self-pollinate despite having perfect flowers.
- 🌱 A mature Black Heart cherry tree can produce 50-100+ pounds of fruit annually once established, and individual trees can remain productive for 40+ years with proper care.
Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.
Get your personalized Black Heart Cherry planting timeline
Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Black Heart Cherry seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.
Get my Black Heart Cherry timeline →