Chelan? Cherry Tree - Prunus avium 'Chelan'

Chelan™ Cherry Tree (Prunus avium 'Chelan')

The Chelan Cherry Tree produces an abundant harvest of deep crimson fruit with exceptional sweetness and juiciness that rivals premium varieties like Bing cherries. This vigorous grower matures earlier in the season and resists common problems such as fruit cracking during wet weather and malformed double fruits, making it a dependable choice for home orchards. When you buy Chelan Cherry Trees online from Florida Plant Nursery, you're investing in a prolific fruiter that yields enough cherries for fresh eating, baking, preserving, and drying all season long.

Landscaping Uses

Position your Chelan Cherry Tree as a stunning focal point in your landscape where it receives ample sunlight and space to reach its full mature size. The tree's spectacular spring display of pale pink and white blossoms makes it equally valuable as an ornamental specimen in larger gardens and properties. Plant it in areas with good air circulation and well-draining soil to promote healthy growth and maximize your annual cherry harvest.

Specifications

Height: 15–30 feet
Width: 15–25 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate to fast
Sun: Full sun (6–8 hours daily)
Water: Regular during establishment; moderate once mature
Soil: Well-drained loam
USDA Zones: 5–9

Why Homeowners Love It

• Produces incredibly sweet fruit with 16–18% sugar content that tastes exceptional fresh off the branch
• Fruits earlier in the season than comparable varieties, extending your harvest window
• Resists weather-related fruit defects that plague other cherry cultivars
• Yields exceptionally heavy crops perfect for multiple uses—fresh snacking, pies, jams, canning, and drying

Planting & Care

Choose a sunny location with well-drained soil and dig a planting hole approximately 18 inches deep and wide. Position your tree in the hole, backfill with soil while removing air pockets, and water thoroughly to settle the roots. Apply a 2–3 inch mulch layer around the base. Water daily for the first week, then every other day the second week, transitioning to weekly watering after the first month. Once established after 1–2 years, the tree typically needs only supplemental watering during extended dry periods. Prune annually in late winter while dormant, removing weak branches and encouraging horizontal growth. Fertilize in spring and midsummer using a balanced, low-nitrogen formula, keeping applications 6–8 inches away from the trunk.