About

Prunus avium 'Merchant' is an early-bearing sweet cherry variety that yields abundant, large, dark red cherries in early summer. This cultivar requires a pollinator, as it is not self-fertile.

About the genus

Prunus includes both deciduous and evergreen trees or shrubs, known for their prominent spring blooms and often vibrant fall leaf color. Several species produce edible fruit during the autumn months, while a select few are noted for their decorative bark.

Growing conditions

Sunlight

Full sun

Soil type

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Soil moisture

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Aspect

West-facing, South-facing

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness

H6

Plant details

Plant type

Fruit Edible, Trees

Habit

Bushy

Foliage

Deciduous

Height

2.5-4 metres

Spread

2.5-4 metres

Time to full height

5-10 years

Suggested uses

City and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden, Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens

Care notes

Cultivation

The ideal position for sweet cherries is deep, fertile, well-drained, slightly acid soil in full sun. Cherries are best suited to fan-training so they can be netted against bird damage and the early blossom protected from frosts, though they can also be grown as small, open trees. See sweet cherry cultivation

Pruning

Train fan-trained trees in spring. Prune established fans and carry out routine pruning on established cherry trees when harvesting the fruits in summer

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding or grafting on clonal rootstock for fruit. Named cultivars will not come true from seed

Pest resistance

Protect trees from birds that can damage buds and eat fruit. May suffer from cherry blackfly and other aphids, leaf-mining moths, pear and cherry slugworm, winter moth and other caterpillars. Spotted-wing drosophila, a fruit fly, is likely to become an increasing problem

Disease resistance

May be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus