Prunus a. ‘Stella’

Are you looking to introduce reliable edible harvests and beautiful spring blossom to your UK garden space? Consider the Prunus avium ‘Stella’, a self-fertile cherry that offers both lovely seasonal displays and delicious fruit. This cultivar is known for producing large, dark red, heart-shaped cherries that boast a sweet, rich flavour, often yielding heavy crops during the summer months.

As the seasons turn, you will first notice the abundant fragrant white flowers appearing through April and May, which are excellent for attracting early pollinators like bees and butterflies. The foliage remains green through the summer before transitioning into a vibrant display of yellow, orange, and red autumn color. Its growth habit starts out upright but matures into a pleasingly bushy, spreading shape, offering shelter and food for birds through its canopy and fruit.

For the best results in a UK setting, ensure this cherry is planted in a spot receiving full sun and offering shelter, away from late frosts, as wet summer weather can occasionally cause the fruit to split. It is wonderfully adaptable, tolerating various soil types including clay, chalk, loam, or sand, provided the site is moist but well-drained; this makes it an ideal choice for an orchard planting, against a wall for fan training, or simply as a standalone specimen to enjoy a delicious home-grown harvest.