Montmorency Cherry

The 'Montmorency' Cherry is a form of the old European Kentish cherry commonly grown in nineteenth-century American gardens. At Monticello, cherries were the third most common fruit tree following apples and peaches, and in 1811 the South Orchard contained forty-eight cherry trees. One of the most remarkable archaeological finds at Monticello occurred in 1981 when four wine bottles filled with preserved cherries were uncovered in a kitchen yard dry well. 'Montmorency' shows snow-white flowers in spring and produces large, juicy, tart, bright red fruits in late spring through early summer. Its acidic flavor makes it an excellent cooking cherry.

In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.