Pin Cherry is a tree that takes about five years to establish — a planting measured in decades, not seasons. It's hardy across USDA zones 2 through 7. Its mid spring flowers are a real draw for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
2-7
pH Range
4.5-7.5
Sun
Full Sun
To First Harvest
~5 yr
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What Pin Cherry is
Pin Cherry grows as a perennial and reaches around 30 feet at maturity. It blooms white in mid spring.
How to grow Pin Cherry
Pin Cherry grows in USDA zones 2 through 7. Pin Cherry does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 4.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground. It needs a growing season of at least 240 frost-free days and about 1000 hours of winter chill, which is why climate matters as much as soil.
USDA Zones
2-7
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
4.5 - 7.5
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
44.6°F
plant_species_v5.csv
To First Harvest
~5 years
Pin cherry; native; high chill; seed needs cold strat. ~5 yr from native seedling; succession-stage native.
USDA-NRCS
Mature Height
30 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Chill Hours
1000+
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
240+
plant_species_v5.csv
Plant it right
Set pin cherry in full sun with well-drained soil. Many fruit trees need a second variety nearby to pollinate — check before you plant just one.
Match the soil
Pin Cherry prefers pH 4.5 to 7.5 (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
Pin Cherry takes about five years to its first meaningful harvest (USDA-NRCS). Prune annually while it establishes, and the tree will then crop for years.
Good to know
One caution for pet owners — pin cherry is toxic to dogs and cats and horses (moderate severity). Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency. (Source: ASPCA.)
Pin Cherry is a standout pollinator plant — high value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Pin Cherry thrives
Pin Cherry is hardy across USDA zones 2 through 7. 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 2–7·Where Pin Cherry growsOpen map →
Continental US shown — Alaska and US Pacific territories sit outside the federal map's polygon dataset.
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Pin Cherry can grow in these states:
See if Pin Cherry will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether pin cherry actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Pin Cherry in my zone?
Pin Cherry grows in USDA hardiness zones 2 through 7 (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 Pin Cherry?
Set pin 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 Pin Cherry need?
Pin Cherry needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Pin Cherry need?
Pin Cherry prefers soil pH 4.5 to 7.5, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Pin Cherry attract pollinators?
Yes — pin cherry's flowers are a strong nectar and pollen source for honeybees, native bees, and butterflies (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Pin Cherry safe for pets?
Pin Cherry is toxic to pets (dogs,cats,horses) with moderate severity. Keep it out of reach, and call ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435 in an emergency.