Cherry, Mazzard

Description:

Mazzard cherry is native to Europe and Asia and has been cultivated in the U.S. since colonial times. Although it is a parent of many of the sweet cherry cultivars sold in commerce today for fruit production (such as the popular bing cherry), its fruits are smaller and not as sweet or tasty as the cultivars. Fragrant white flowers (to 1.5” diameter) appear singly or in 3-5 flowered clusters in spring slightly before the foliage emerges. Flowers are followed by small sweet red to black cherries which ripen in early summer. Oval, dull, dark green leaves (to 6” long) turn yellow in fall. Birds and squirrels love the fruit, and are undoubtedly in part responsible for the naturalization of this tree from gardens into the wild in eastern and midwestern North America.

Mazzard cherry is not indigenous to the U.S., however, it is generally not considered invasive. Instead, it is a responsible immigrant, fitting in well and contributing to our eco-system without crowding out the natives.

Mazzard cherry normally grows to about 50′ but occasionally can get larger. Seven Gables has a huge specimen that is around 100′ tall with a trunk diameter of 29″.