Variety fit — South Carolina
Can I grow Montmorency tart cherry in South Carolina?
The verdict
Not recommended
- Your zone 8b is warmer than this variety's range (zones 4–7); it may not receive reliable winter chilling.
Based on South Carolina’s main growing area (29201): zone 8b, ~918 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| Montmorency chill requirement | 500 chill hours |
|---|---|
| Montmorency hardiness | USDA zones 4–7 |
| South Carolina average chill (29201) | 918 hours (714–1,127 across 10 winters) |
| South Carolina zone (29201) | USDA zone 8b |
Better tart cherry choices for South Carolina
These meet South Carolina’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Questions
- Can I grow Montmorency tart cherry in South Carolina?
- Probably not — Your zone 8b is warmer than this variety's range (zones 4–7); it may not receive reliable winter chilling.
Sources
- [1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
- [2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
- [3] Utah State University Extension (Intermountain Tree Fruit Production Guide). Varieties for Utah — Cherry — accessed July 2026
- [4] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026