Are There Cherry Trees That Aren't Edible? Understanding Ornamental vs. Fruiting Cherries

November 20, 2025 •

3 min read

Not all cherry trees are cultivated for their fruit; many ornamental varieties are bred specifically for their showy blossoms. This means that while some cherry trees produce delicious, ripe fruit, others, such as the widely celebrated flowering cherries, produce small, bitter, or even inedible cherries designed only for the birds.

Quick Summary

This guide details the differences between edible and ornamental cherry trees. It explains how to identify which varieties produce edible fruit and which are solely for aesthetic purposes, emphasizing the toxicity of cherry pits, stems, and leaves across almost all species.

Key Points

Ornamental Cherries Are Different: Flowering cherry trees are bred for their spectacular blossoms, not their edible fruit.
Ornamental Fruit Is Inedible: The small, dark fruits of ornamental varieties are typically bitter and are best left for birds.
All Pits are Toxic: The pits, stems, and leaves of all Prunus species contain toxic cyanide-producing compounds and should not be consumed.
Never Chew Pits: Chewing the cherry pit releases toxic compounds, posing a danger of cyanide poisoning to humans and pets.
Identify Before Foraging: Never eat cherries from a wild tree unless you are 100% certain of its species and that it is not a poisonous look-alike.
Fruiting vs. Flowering Features: Fruiting cherries have simpler flowers and are bred for fruit, while ornamental ones have more dramatic flowers and often better fall foliage.
Protect Pets and Children: Remove all pits from cherries before serving them to children and prevent pets from chewing on cherry tree leaves or branches.

Ornamental Cherry Trees: All Beauty, No Bite

Ornamental cherry trees, including popular Japanese flowering varieties like Prunus serrulata, are prized for their stunning floral displays, not their fruit. These trees have been cultivated over centuries to prioritize large, vibrant, and long-lasting blossoms. While they might produce small, pea-sized cherries, these fruits are generally extremely sour, bitter, and unappetizing for human consumption. They serve as a food source for birds, who can process them without harm. For gardeners and homeowners, the choice of an ornamental variety focuses on aesthetic qualities like flower color (from pure white to deep pink), tree shape (weeping, columnar, or vase-shaped), and vibrant fall foliage, not a summer fruit harvest.

Identifying Ornamental Cherries

During the spring, ornamental cherries are easily distinguished by their profuse and often double-petaled flowers, which are far more intense than the simpler, single-petaled flowers of most fruiting varieties. In autumn, the difference becomes even clearer as many ornamental types produce stunning red and orange leaf colors, a trait uncommon in fruiting cherries. Additionally, at a nursery, the label will explicitly state if the tree is ornamental or a fruiting variety.

Fruiting Cherry Trees: The Edible Harvest

Fruiting cherry trees are cultivated specifically to produce delicious fruit for human consumption. The two primary species for this purpose are the sweet cherry (Prunus avium) and the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus). These trees typically have less spectacular, smaller, and often white or blush-pink blossoms compared to their ornamental cousins. Their energy is directed toward producing juicy, flavorful fruit rather than an intense floral show.

The Poisonous Pits, Leaves, and Stems

Regardless of whether a cherry tree is ornamental or fruiting, it is crucial to remember that the pits, leaves, and stems of almost all Prunus species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which release cyanide when metabolized. This makes them highly toxic if chewed or ingested in large quantities. While the fruit flesh itself is safe for humans, the pits can be particularly dangerous for pets, especially dogs, who may chew them and be at risk of cyanide poisoning or intestinal blockage. This danger extends to the wilted leaves of cherry trees, which can be highly toxic to livestock.

Can you eat wild cherries?

While many wild cherry varieties, such as the Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), produce edible fruit, foraging requires absolute certainty. Confusing a wild cherry tree with a poisonous look-alike, such as moonseed berries or deadly nightshade, can be a serious mistake. For this reason, experts recommend buying cherries from a grocery store unless you are 100% certain of the tree's identification.

Comparison Table: Ornamental vs. Fruiting Cherry Trees


Feature	Ornamental Cherry Trees	Fruiting Cherry Trees
Primary Purpose	Aesthetic display of flowers	Production of edible fruit
Flowers	Often large, double-petaled, and more profuse	Smaller, simpler, single-petaled blossoms
Fruit	Small, bitter, and largely inedible for humans	Large, juicy, and flavorful for eating
Harvest Focus	N/A (not grown for harvest)	Timely harvest of ripe fruit
Lifespan	Typically longer-lived (often 35+ years)	Generally shorter-lived (around 25 years)
Care Needs	Less demanding, adapted for beauty	More attention to climate, soil, pests
Fall Foliage	Often boasts brilliant red and orange colors	Usually less striking, mostly green leaves

Safe Handling and Gardening Practices

To ensure safety for your household and pets, practice responsible gardening. Always positively identify a tree before attempting to eat any part of it. If you have a fruiting cherry tree, be meticulous in removing all pits when preparing fruit for consumption, especially around children and pets. Be mindful of fallen branches or leaves, as they also pose a toxicity risk. If you are ever in doubt about a plant's edibility, consult an expert rather than risking consumption. For those growing flowering varieties, enjoy the visual splendor, but remember the fruit is not for eating.

Conclusion

The simple answer to "Are there cherry trees that aren't edible?" is a definitive yes. Many trees within the Prunus genus, particularly ornamental cultivars, are not bred for fruit production and, as a result, have small, bitter, and unpalatable fruit. Furthermore, it's vital to remember that all cherry pits, stems, and leaves contain toxic compounds and should never be consumed. Proper identification of the tree variety and safe handling of the fruit are essential for the health and safety of both people and pets.

For more detailed botanical information on the different species within the Prunus genus, a great resource is iNaturalist.org. https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/47351-Prunus

Frequently Asked Questions

No, not all cherry fruit is safe to eat. While fruit from cultivated sweet and sour cherry trees is edible, fruit from ornamental cherry trees is typically bitter and should not be consumed by humans.

The pits, stems, and leaves of all cherry trees (Prunus species) are toxic to humans and animals. They contain cyanogenic glycosides that can release cyanide if chewed or ingested.

You should not eat the fruit from a Japanese cherry blossom tree. These ornamental trees are bred for their flowers, and their small, dark fruit is unpalatable and often bitter for human consumption.

Swallowing a cherry pit whole is unlikely to cause cyanide poisoning, as the toxic compound is contained within the pit's hard shell. The main risk is a potential intestinal blockage, especially for small children or pets.

Fruiting cherry trees generally have smaller, less intense flowers and prioritize producing fruit. Ornamental cherry trees, in contrast, are known for their dense, often double-petaled blossoms and more vibrant fall foliage.

Some wild cherries, like Black and Chokecherries, are edible, but it is dangerous to assume so. It's easy to confuse wild cherries with poisonous look-alikes like deadly nightshade or moonseed berries, so it is safest to avoid them.

Yes, it is generally safe for birds to eat the fruit of ornamental cherry trees. Their digestive systems are equipped to handle the compounds that are toxic to humans and other mammals.