Discover Arbor Garden Centre and Nursery's Beautiful Plants

 The Evans Sour cherry tree, also known as Evans Bali cherry, is an extremely cold-hardy tart cherry variety developed for the Canadian Prairies and other northern climates. Originally discovered near Edmonton, Alberta in the early 20th century, this reliable sour cherry became highly valued for its ability to withstand harsh winters while still producing abundant crops of flavourful fruit. Evans cherries are medium-sized with bright red skin and flesh, offering a balanced tart-sweet flavour that is less acidic than many traditional sour cherries. The fruit is excellent for fresh eating when fully ripe, as well as for pies, baking, preserves, wine, and juice. Evans Sour cherry trees are self-fertile, productive, and relatively low-maintenance, making them especially popular in colder regions where sweet cherries struggle to survive.

Pollination: Evans Sour cherry trees are self-fertile and do not require another cherry tree for pollination or fruit production. Planting additional sour cherry trees nearby may help increase yields.
Flowers Blossom: Mid spring
Fruit Ripens: Mid to late summer (typically July to early August in Ontario)
Fruit: Medium-sized bright red cherries with red flesh and juice. Juicy with a balanced tart-sweet flavour that becomes sweeter when fully ripe.
Usage: Excellent for fresh eating, pies, baking, preserves, wine, juice, drying, and freezing.
Tree Characteristics: Extremely cold-hardy, productive, and easy to grow. More tolerant of harsh winters than most cherry varieties. Benefits from annual pruning and good airflow.
Hardiness Zones: 2–7
Light Requirements: Full sun
Soil Requirements: Well-drained fertile loamy soil with a pH of 6.0–7.0
Average Height: 4.5–5.5 m (15–18 ft)
Maximum Height: Up to 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 3.5–5 m (12–16 ft)
Growth Habit: Upright to rounded canopy
Growth Rate: Moderate
Ontario Native Status: Introduced (developed in Alberta, Canada; not considered native)

Best Ontario native plants to grow around cherry trees

Ground Cover (Shade Tolerant)
Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana): Excellent living mulch that helps retain soil moisture, supports pollinators, and produces edible berries.
Blue Violet (Viola sororia): Shade-tolerant native ground cover that supports native pollinators.
Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis): Vigorous native ground cover useful for weed suppression.

Pollinator & Beneficial Insect Plants
Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum): Helps deter some pests while attracting bees and beneficial insects.
Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta): Attracts pollinators and predatory insects that help control pests.
Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium spp.): Valuable late-season nectar source for pollinators.
New York Ironweed (Vernonia noveboracensis): Excellent pollinator support plant for midsummer through fall.

Soil Improvers & Habitat Plants
Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum): Supports beneficial insects and tolerates partial shade.
Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis): Nitrogen-fixing native plant that can help improve soil fertility where conditions are suitable.

Other Tips for Cherry Tree Guilds
Spring Bulbs: Plant daffodils around the drip line to help deter deer, rabbits, and voles.
Mulching: Apply wood chips or leaf mulch around the base to conserve moisture and improve soil health while keeping mulch away from the trunk.
Spacing: Place companion plants near the drip line (outer edge of branches) to minimize root competition, especially around young trees.
Bird Protection: Sour cherries are attractive to birds; netting may help protect ripening fruit.