Common Name : Sour cherry
Scientific Name : Prunus ‘North Star’
Zone : 4 to 9
Height : 7 to 9 feet
Width : 8 to 10 feet
Culture :
Grow in average, medium moisture, well drained soil in full sun. Prefers moisture-retentive soils with good drainage. No tolerance for wet soils. Best sited in a sheltered location where periodic chemical spraying will not pose problems to adjacent areas. Plant 10′ apart. Self-pollinating
Description :
Cherries are truly easy-for-the-picking on this dwarf hybrid that was developed back in 1950 by researchers at the University of Minnesota. This sour cherry is a dwarf, vase-shaped, deciduous, fruit tree which typically grows only 7-9′ tall and produces one crop per year of large, bright red, sour cherries with yellow flesh. Cherries ripen in June (USDA Zone 5). Cherries are recommended for pies. White blossoms in spring.
Problem :
This cultivar is reportedly disease resistant. However, potential disease problems include leaf spot, bacterial canker, brown rot, black knot, crown gall, leaf curl, leaf scorch, powdery mildew, root rot, scab and shot-hole fungus. Potential insect pests include aphids, fruit flies, saw flies and scale. Netting or nylon mesh can be used, if necessary, to prevent birds from stealing the crop. Cold winter temperatures and spring frosts can cause significant injury to buds/flowers, almost to the same extent as with peaches.
Garden Uses:
Grown primarily for the fruit crop and not for ornamental value. This self-pollinating dwarf cherry is ideal for smaller spaces.