Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees

Light Needs

Full Sun

(6+ Hours Direct Sun)

Mature Height

5-8 Feet

Mature Spread

5-7 Feet

Growing Zones

2 to 7

Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees turn a small sunny space into a cold-hardy pie cherry patch with two compact bushes bred for big flavor. These self-pollinating Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus cultivars stay easy to harvest at about 5 to 8 feet tall and 5 to 7 feet wide, with white spring flowers followed by deep red Romeo™ fruit and brighter red Juliet™ fruit in summer. The cherries balance sweetness with classic tart cherry bite, making them excellent for pies, preserves, juice, wine, fresh snacking, and freezing. Our favorite part is the small-bush format, because you can net, prune, and pick these cherries without hauling out a ladder.

These cherry trees are part of the University of Saskatchewan Romance series and have a neat backstory for gardeners in colder regions.They come from crosses involving Prunus fruticosa and Prunus cerasus, combining bushy dwarf habit, strong winter hardiness, and sweeter-than-usual tart cherry flavor. Juliet™ and Romeo™ were both released in 2004, and both are hardy to Zone 2, which is unusually cold-hardy for cherries. 

Note: These trees are shipped together in one pot and can be separated at planting.

Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees Care

Plant Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees in full sun with at least 6 hours of direct light, using fertile, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH around 6.0 to 7.0. Avoid soggy planting sites because cherries dislike wet roots. Separate the two plants in the pot, then dig each hole as deep as the root ball and about twice as wide, setting the root flare at soil level before backfilling and watering well. Space plants 6 to 8 feet apart, or allow 8 to 10 feet from structures and other larger plants so air can move through the branches.

Prune in late winter or early spring during dry weather to remove dead, weak, inward-growing, or crowded branches. Keep the interior airy, and tip back overly vigorous shoots to maintain manageable height.

Growing Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees

Expect the first meaningful crops about 2 to 4 years after planting, with production increasing as the bushes mature. Romeo™ often ripens to a deep red-black color in mid-summer, while Juliet™ can ripen earlier to deep red, giving the pair a slightly longer picking window. Both are self-fruitful, but planting them near each other can increase fruit set, and pollinating bees are important during bloom. Birds love the crop, so consider lightweight netting as fruit colors. Pick cherries when the color has deepened and the fruit tastes sweet-tart, then refrigerate promptly, freeze for baking, or cook into jam, pie filling, syrup, or sauce.

Growing Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees in Containers

Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees can grow in large containers while young, though they usually perform best planted in the ground in cold climates. Choose a pot 18 to 22 inches in diameter with drainage holes, fill it with a well-drained potting mix, and place the container where the plant gets strong sun for most of the day. Repot in spring when roots circle the pot or growth slows, moving up only one container size at a time so the mix does not stay wet too long. Although Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees are hardy in zones 2 to 7, container plants benefit from winter protection because potted roots are more exposed than roots planted in the ground.

Watering Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees

Water deeply once or twice per week during the first growing season, adjusting for rainfall, heat, and soil type. Established bushes need less frequent irrigation, but curling leaves, dry soil 2 to 3 inches down, or shriveling fruit mean it is time for a slow soak.

Feeding Romeo and Juliet Cherry Trees

Feed in early spring before new growth with a balanced fertilizer such as 10-10-10, following the label rate for young fruiting shrubs. Skip heavy nitrogen applications, since too much leafy growth can reduce fruiting and make the plant harder to manage.

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