Meteor Sour Cherry Tree

Meteor Sour Cherry (Prunus ‘Meteor’) was introduced by the University of Minnesota in 1952 as a compact, cold-hardy, naturally dwarf sour cherry with a self-pollinating habit — making it one of the most practical and space-efficient sour cherries available for home growing. The large, bright red cherries have a mildly acidic, tart flavor outstanding for pies, sauces, preserves, and fresh eating, with the clean, classic sour cherry character that makes it excellent wherever Montmorency would be used. Resistant to leaf spot, bears in 2–3 years, and productive across Zones 4–8. Organic options available.

Compact, Self-Pollinating, and Naturally Dwarf

Meteor’s naturally compact habit makes it one of the most practical sour cherries for smaller home gardens, patios, and sites where a standard-sized cherry tree would be impractical. Self-pollinating with no second variety required, and bearing large bright red fruit in 2–3 years from planting — the combination of compact size, self-sufficiency, and early bearing makes it a natural first choice for home orchardists who want pie cherry quality in a manageable footprint.

University of Minnesota, 1952 — Cold-Hardy and Leaf Spot Resistant

The University of Minnesota pedigree ensures the cold hardiness that Zone 4 and 5 growers need — and Meteor’s specific resistance to leaf spot provides meaningful practical protection in humid climates where cherry foliage diseases are a consistent management challenge. Introduced in 1952, it has over 70 years of proven performance in northern home orchards where the sour cherry season is one of the most anticipated harvests of the year.

Mildly Acidic — Outstanding for Pies, Preserves, and Fresh Eating

Meteor’s large, bright red cherries have a mildly acidic, tart flavor — less sharp than some sour cherry varieties — that makes them outstanding across every classic sour cherry application. Pies, cobblers, and crisps where the cherry flavor holds up against sugar and butter. Preserves and sauces where the tartness balances sweetness. And fresh off the tree where the mild acid balance makes them more enjoyable to eat directly than sharper varieties.

Why Growers Choose Meteor Sour Cherry

• Compact, naturally dwarf habit — productive in smaller spaces and gardens
• Self-pollinating — no second tree required
• University of Minnesota, 1952 — 70+ years of proven cold-hardy performance
• Resistant to leaf spot — reliable foliage health through the season
• Bears in 2–3 years — quick reward from a productive tree
• Organic options available — for growers who want a certified organic tree