Cultivation

The cultivated forms are of the speciessweet cherry(P. avium) to which most cherrycultivarsbelong, and thesour cherry(P. cerasus), which is used mainly for cooking. Both species originate in Europe and western Asia; they do not crosspollinate. Some other species, although having edible fruit, are not grown extensively for consumption, except in northern regions where the two main species will not grow. Irrigation, spraying, labor, and their propensity to damage from rain and hail make cherries relatively expensive.