• A flowering Black Tartarian Cherry Tree with dense white blossoms and dark branches, photographed outdoors against a clear blue sky with a dirt path and greenery at the base.
  • A potted young black tartarian cherry tree with green leaves and a bamboo stake, in a black plastic nursery pot, isolated on a white background.
  • Informational graphic for a Black Tartarian Cherry Tree, featuring a top photo of cherries and text stating it is self-pollinating and produces a full crop on its own.
  • A USDA hardiness zone map of the United States with labeled patio and outdoor zones, showing a light teal map on a beige background with explanatory text blocks below.
  • Several dark red cherries from the Black Tartarian Cherry Tree hanging from a tree branch with green leaves in a close-up outdoor shot.
  • A flowering Black Tartarian Cherry Tree with dense white blossoms and dark branches, photographed outdoors against a clear blue sky with a dirt path and greenery at the base.
  • Close-up of glossy dark red cherries from the Black Tartarian Cherry Tree with visible water droplets, filling the frame with a small portion of a wooden container edge visible at the bottom right.
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Black Tartarian Cherry Tree

Rich, wine-sweet cherry flavor

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About the Variety

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Key Features

Frost Tolerant
Attracts Bees
Fragrant
Edible

Plant Details

LIFE CYCLE

  • Perennial

SEED TYPE

  • Live Plant

LIGHT REQUIREMENT

  • Full Sun

BLOOM SEASON

  • Spring

GROWTH HABIT

  • Upright

COLOR

  • Red
  • Purple

MATURE SIZE

  • 15 ft. x 10 ft.

An heirloom favorite since the early 1800s, Black Tartarian produces glossy, near-black cherries with juicy flesh and an intensely sweet, almost wine-like flavor. Ripening in June, the Black Tartarian Cherry Tree delivers its delicious harvest earlier than many other sweet cherries, perfect for picking straight from the branch or enjoying in pies and preserves. Showy white spring blossoms and a vigorous, upright habit make this classic cherry a genuine landscape tree and an incredible fruit producer.

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Available across most of the U.S. — except AK, AZ, CA, HI, ID, OR, WA.

  • • Early season harvest
  • • Excellent fresh or preserved
  • • Needs a pollinating partner; plant a different but compatible cherry variety nearby to set fruit

Planting Information

PLANTING SEASON

  • Spring
  • Fall

PLANTING DEPTH

  • Plant at the same depth as the nursery container

WATER NEEDS

  • Average

PLANT SPACING

  • 10 to 15 feet

HARDINESS ZONES

  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8

Planting Guide

recommended growing zone View our Cherry Tree Planting Guide to learn more.

Ready to Grow

We guarantee that our seeds & bulbs will be true to type and ready to thrive. If something doesn't grow as expected, we will make it right. Questions? Call us at 855-440-2929

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Black Tartarian Cherry Tree FAQs

How does the Black Tartarian taste?

It is a dark, richly sweet cherry with firm, juicy flesh and a deep, almost wine-like flavor. The near-black fruit is excellent eaten fresh and equally good in pies, preserves, and liqueurs. Many growers consider it one of the most flavorful classic sweet cherries.

Do I need a second tree to get fruit?

Yes. Black Tartarian is not self-fertile, so it needs a compatible sweet cherry variety blooming nearby to set a good crop. Bing, Stella, Rainier, and other mid-season sweet cherries make good partners and Black Tartarian returns the favor as a strong pollinator for them.

How soon will it bear fruit?

Sweet cherries typically begin bearing a few years after planting, with fuller crops as the tree matures. Giving it full sun, steady early-years watering, and a compatible pollinator nearby will help it reach reliable, heavy June harvests sooner.

Can I grow it in a cold climate?

It is hardy outdoors in USDA zones 5 through 8, so it handles genuine winters. The main risk in cold regions is a late spring frost damaging the early blossoms. Planting the tree where it gets good air drainage and isn't in a frost pocket helps protect the bloom.

Why is my cherry tree dropping fruit or losing leaves?

A light natural drop after bloom is normal as the tree sheds what it can't support. Heavier fruit drop often points to inadequate pollination (no compatible partner nearby) or inconsistent watering. Sudden leaf or limb dieback can signal bacterial canker or brown rot. In that case, prune in dry weather, clear fallen fruit, and improve airflow to reduce disease pressure.

When and how do I harvest?

Cherries ripen in June. Pick when they are fully colored, deep purple-black, glossy, and taste sweet. They will not continue to ripen after picking. Harvest gently with the stems attached to extend shelf life, and net the tree ahead of ripening if birds are a problem in your area.

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