what is your favorite cherry tree?

[mellowtigger]

A hailstorm swept through Minneapolis on Wednesday. I didn't notice at the time, but the main branch of my dwarf cherry tree broke. There's now a big "hole" in the middle of this tree. :(

I've had so little luck getting a proper cherry crop from this tree after many years, and now I have this setback. I've decided to give up the great sunlight in the area directly south of my house. I'll buy a proper full-size cherry tree to plant there. It'll be nice fruit to eat, a beautiful site from the street, and shade for my house in the summer.

What's your favorite cherry to eat fresh from the tree or frozen (added to smoothies or ice cream)? It needs to be hardy to zone 4 too. And maybe self-pollinating? I'm open to suggestions.

Edit 4:45pm: Okay, I've nearly decided. I'll get

• a Montmorency cherry (tart, standard size, up to 5 meters tall and wide, planted close to the front fence so pedestrians could grab some) and
• a Kristin cherry (sweet, dwarf, about 3 meters, planted by the back fence to replace that terribly astringent jostaberry, and anybody walking the alley could pick some), and
• a Hinnomaki red gooseberry to also help replace that jostaberry growth.
• Next to the Montmorency, I will place a hazelnut tree for bigger shade and more food options. Hazelnuts are native to Minnesota, so hopefully one is sufficient for pollination.
• And a few more columnar apple trees. They take so very little space. I'd like to see more than one or two fruits that the squirrels steal first.

Comments

[mellowtigger]

P.S. I see from this page that there are a few options.
https://treevitalize.com/zone-4-cherry-trees/

Unfortunately, I don't know if the 10 meter (30 foot) tall-and-wide tree is appropriate for that narrow space between houses. I'll measure it after work today when the rain stops. If not, then maybe the smaller Montmorency cherry? And if not that, then maybe just plant 2 Nanking trees together?

P.P.S. Or just go with the North Star, even though it's not a sweet cherry to eat fresh? Ugh, I'm stuck being indecisive again.

P.P.P.S. I measured. A 3-meter radius is about as far as I'm willing to push it for a tree in that part of my yard. I don't want squirrels deciding to hop onto either of our roofs.

P.P.P.P.S. I cut off both "halves" of the split central branch, because neither had a trustworthy connection to the main trunk. I stuck both into some water, to see if either had a chance and forming roots. It would be awesome if this problem ending up producing more dwarf cherry "trees" (aka large bushes). I wish I had some root growth hormone already in the house. I'll go order some online right now while I look for what tree option I want to buy.