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Benton Sweet Cherry

bare-root trees
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Prunus avium
Summer, deep red skin.

PC7146-8 Stella × Beaulieu. WSU, 2003.

Highly flavorful large firm deep red cherry resembles Bing. Neighbors reported that the cherries on their young tree had a sweet chin-dripping heavenly flavor that made them think of little plums dressed up in cherry suits. Less susceptible to cracking than other varieties. Flowers almost a week later than other sweet cherries, potentially missing late frosts. Vigorous upright and spreading growth. Self-pollinating. Z5.

(3–6' grafted bare-root trees)
ships in spring
Quick Details
Skin Color
deep red
Harvest Season
summer
Hardy to Zone
5
Compare
Compare with other Sweet Cherries
Variety Product Type Skin Color Harvest Season Hardy to Zone
Benton bare-root trees deep red summer 5
BlackGold bare-root trees dark red summer 4
Lapins bare-root trees black-mahogany red summer 4
Leningrad bare-root trees dark red summer 4
Rainier bare-root trees red-blushed yellow summer 4
Stella bare-root trees black midsummer 4
WhiteGold bare-root trees red-blushed gold summer 4
Additional Information

Cherries Prunus spp.

Stone Fruits Widely cultivated around the world and adaptable to most of New England. Not highly particular as to soils. Clingstone means the fruit’s flesh sticks to the pit (or stone) and a freestone pit drops cleanly away from the flesh. Like our apples and pears, all our stone fruits are grafted trees.

Sweet Cherries Prunus avium

Generally grow into large trees although the flowers are tender and fruiting can be iffy in central Maine and north. We are testing the hardiest varieties and hope to keep adding more varieties.

Mature trees reach 25–30' tall.

Pie Cherries Prunus cerasus

Also called Sour Cherries. Delicious enough to eat right off the tree and especially good in pies. They fruit in early to midsummer and don’t mind heavy soil. Pie cherries are generally divided into two groups: Morello types have dark red spherical fruit, dark juice and relatively small compact trees. Montmorency (or Amarelle) types have light red slightly flattened fruit, clear juice and medium-sized somewhat open trees.

Pie cherries are significantly hardier than sweet cherries but flower buds may be damaged in colder winters. We often encounter excellent crops in central Maine.

Mature trees reach 10–15' tall.

Other “Cherries” For some interesting fruits sometimes called “cherries,” see Cornelian Cherries and Nanking Cherries. Sometimes we also stock Bush Cherries and Dwarf Sour Cherries, so check back in future years!

Growing Sweet and Pie Cherries

  • Soil: Prefers well-drained fertile soil; pie cherries are more forgiving and adaptable than sweet cherries.
  • Sun: Full.
  • Pollination:
    • Most sweet cherries need a second variety for pollination, so plant two or more for best results.
    • Pie cherries are self-pollinating.
  • Spacing:
    • Plant sweet cherries 25' apart.
    • Plant pie cherries 15–20' apart.
  • Planting: See our planning and planting and pests and diseases pages for more information about soil prep, planting and pest control.

Shipping

Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered on or before February 20 will ship from March through early May, starting with warmer areas and finishing in colder areas.

Orders placed after February 20 will ship from April to May.