Yoshino Cherry – Edible

Q: Is the fruit of ‘Yoshino’ cherry edible? My five-year old tree produced fruit for the first time this year.

A: ‘Yoshino’ fruits are edible, but only birds and small animals enjoy consuming them. The pit (seed) is huge in comparison to the flesh. Not all trees produce fruit, and even if they do, not every year. ‘Yoshino’ cherry is the elegant tree that graces the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC each year, as well as being the star attraction of the Cherry Blossom Festival in Macon every March.