Cherry - Stella

Common Name:
Stella Cherry

Description:
The Stella cherry (Prunus avium 'Stella') is a highly popular self-fertile sweet cherry variety, prized for its large, dark red fruit with a rich, juicy flavour. One of the first self-pollinating cherry varieties, Stella is an excellent choice for home orchards, as it produces abundant crops without needing a pollination partner. The cherries have firm, sweet flesh, making them perfect for fresh eating, baking, and preserving. The tree has a vigorous, upright growth habit and thrives in full sun with well-drained soil. Flowering in spring, Stella is an excellent pollinator for other cherry varieties and produces fruit in early to mid-summer. Regular pruning helps maintain tree health and encourages high-quality fruit production.

Form:

• Tree - Small
• Tree - Medium

Mature Size:

• Height: 3–5m (can be pruned smaller)
• Width: 3–4m

Aspect:

• Full Sun

Flowering:

• Flowers in Spring

Flower Colour:

• White

Key Attributes:

• Edible Fruit
• Self-Pollinating
• Suitable for Espalier
• Suitable for Pots (when grown as a dwarf variety)
• Bee Attracting
• Heavy Fruiting Variety

Toxicity:

• Leaves, seeds, and pits contain cyanogenic compounds and should not be consumed

Companion Plants:

• Other cherry varieties (Lapins, Bing) for increased fruiting
• Peaches and nectarines (similar growing conditions)
• Lavender (attracts pollinators)
• Borage (improves fruit set)
• Marigolds (helps deter pests)