Cherry Tree

[Ross Carter]

Hi  all,

Just wondering if Brisbane South  is a good enough location to grow a cherry tree, will it be cold enough for it to get plenty of fruit, just wondering if anyone have any success.

cheers 

[Doug Hanning]

Sophie - the grumichama needs lots of water to flower. When it rains I then water them dor a week or so to induce flowering. I really like this fruit.

[Sophie]

Thanks Lily, will be interested to hear how it goes! My grumi's haven't fruited yet either... they've been there a while!

[Lily]

I splurged on this low-chill cherry tree in the Daleys bare root catalogue this year.  It wasn't cheap and I know it may well not fruit here as Daleys lists it as requiring 400 chill hours and Brisbane officially gets 300, but I have put it in a large pot in the coldest area of our yard where it will get 100% shade in winter, and I am crossing my fingers. I have another couple of locations in mind if this one doesn't work, where I can move the pot and try it.  I was actually very impressed when it arrived at how large and sturdy the trunk was--I definitely felt like I got a very high-quality plant for the money.  If I end up deciding it will never fruit here, I have a couple of sisters who live further south and I can hopefully re-home it with them.  I will certainly post on here if it ever does fruit, although you may already know, because my squeal of joy will have resounded all over Brisbane!

I also have a young grumichama which hasn't yet fruited, and have a "cherry of rio grande" on order.

[Sophie]

Some of our friends said there was a TROPICAL cherry tree that had lots of fruit in Maleny.. a little colder than Bris but if you chance upon a plant, made worth a shot?

[Doug Hanning]

Hey Ross,

I know a guy with a few cherry trees out past willowbank that gets a reasonable number of frosts and has never had fruit. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Like Christa said there are a few subtropical alternatives, another is grumichama a nice tasty fruit.

[Christa]

Ross, I have had no luck with cherry trees (Prunus).  But there are alternatives such as "Cherry of the Rio Grand", Acerola Cherry, Capulin Cherry and even brazilian cherry.  The last one is less cherry like.  

Other members have tried different Prunus but they need some cold weather to get them fruiting.  There are low-chill varieties from Kyogle supplier but they are expensive. Maybe our members who have had luck with them, can let you know.