Cornelian Cherry is a tree, a long-term addition to the landscape. It's hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11 and grows just as well in a container as in the ground. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies, even though the fruit is the prize.
Zones
5-11
pH Range
6-8.5
Sun
Part Sun
Days to Maturity
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What Cornelian Cherry is
Cornelian Cherry grows as a perennial and reaches around 20 feet at maturity. It blooms yellow in summer. It's also well suited to containers.
How to grow Cornelian Cherry
Cornelian Cherry grows in USDA zones 5 through 11. Cornelian Cherry does best in part sun — at least 4 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 6 to 8.5, on well-drained ground. It needs around 1,500 growing degree days to mature and about 600 hours of winter chill to set fruit, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
5-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
6 - 8.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Part Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
-27°F
plant_species_v5.csv
GDD Required
1500+
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
20 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
600+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set cornelian cherry in part sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Cornelian Cherry prefers pH 6 to 8.5 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Be patient, then harvest
Prune annually while the tree establishes; fruit trees reward patience with years of harvest. Local Extension guides publish per-cultivar bearing-age tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — cornelian cherry isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Cornelian Cherry offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Cornelian Cherry thrives
Cornelian Cherry is hardy across USDA zones 5 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 5–11·Where Cornelian Cherry growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Cornelian Cherry can grow in these states:
See if Cornelian Cherry will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether cornelian cherry actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Cornelian Cherry in my zone?
Cornelian Cherry grows in USDA hardiness zones 5 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Cornelian Cherry?
Set cornelian cherry out in early spring or fall while it's dormant, so the roots establish before the heat of summer. Your local last-frost date — which a Growable Ground report pulls for your exact address — sets the precise window.
How much sun does Cornelian Cherry need?
Cornelian Cherry does well in partial sun — around 4 hours of direct sun, and it takes some afternoon shade in stride. That flexibility makes it a good match for a bed the house or a nearby tree shades for part of the day. A Growable Ground report maps how the sun actually falls on your land, hour by hour, so you can set it where the light lines up.
What soil does Cornelian Cherry need?
Cornelian Cherry prefers soil pH 6 to 8.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Cornelian Cherry attract pollinators?
Yes — cornelian cherry's flowers are a solid nectar source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Cornelian Cherry safe for pets?
Cornelian Cherry is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.