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Dwarf Sour Cherries

Biology and Cultivars

Dwarf Sour CherriesPrunus cerasus(Sour Cherry)

Prunus cerasus(Sour Cherry)

Improved Mongolian

Prunus fruticosa(Mongolian Cherry)

Dwarf Sour Cherry

1‐3m (3‐10ft)spreading; suckering

reddish, pea‐sized, very sour fruit

15‐20m (49‐65ft) (on own roots)dark or light flesh; dark or red skin

2‐3m (6‐10ft)Less suckering than Mongolian

Large, tart fruit – dark skin & flesh

Individual Dwarf Sour Cherry(U of S – Saskatoon, SK)

History

Breeding of the current U of S dwarf sour cherries started in the 1940’s

Evans Cherry was released in ?? It has been widely available since the late 80’s to early 90’s

U of S released SK Carmine Jewel in 1999

U of S released the Romance series (5 cultivars) in 2004

Uses

Quality is such that fresh eating is possibleProcessing cherries (mainly) Jams / Jellies / Syrups Pies / Pie FillingDried fruit Syrup Juice Chocolate covered (yeah, that’s right)Wine Cherry sausage, etc.

Dwarf Sour Cherry Product– Over the Hill Orchards

Biology

Shrubs are dwarf on their own roots

FruitDrupe with a single seed (i.e. cherry)

FlowersWhite flowers with long pedicels (stems)

Single or in 5 flower clusters On sides of branches on young wood On spurs on older wood

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Flowering / Pollination

Plants flower in mid to late MayOpen slightly before leaves

All flowers open within 1 week of each otherDelayed blooming can be an indication of winter injury

Self‐fruitful Self‐pollinated

Bees are necessary for pollen transfer Bees will increase pollination and yields

SK Carmine Jewel – at the end of flowering, with small fruit

(Ferintosh, AB)

Dormancy

Starts when days shorten and temperatures start to drop below 7°C

Develops from the tips of branches inward to the roots

Trunks by the ground are last to enter dormancy

There should be buds forming at branch tips by the first frost

Winter injured  Evans cherries(Andrew, AB)

Photo by Sharon Faye

INSTA‐POLL“WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE 

WITH SOUR CHERRY SURVIVAL?” CULTIVARS

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SK Carmine Jewel Crimson Passion Cupid

Juliet Romeo Valentine

Photos by U of S Domestic Fruit Program

Photos by U of S Domestic Fruit Program

Cultivar Comparisons

Fruit Colour

Avg Fruit Size 

(grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

SK Carmine Jewel

Dark purple skin & flesh

3.5 Round Small 16‐18

RomeoDark red to 

black4 Round Small

Sweeter than SCJ

ValentineMedium 

red4.5 Round Small ?

Juliet Dark red 5 Round Large 20

Crimson Passion

Dark red 6 Round Large 22‐25

CupidDark red to 

black6.5 Elongated Large ?

Cultivar Comparisons

Bush HeightAverage 

MaturationTime

Amount of Suckering

Productivity

SK Carmine Jewel

2m / 6.5ftLate July –early August

Low High

Romeo 2m / 6.5ftLate August –early Sept

Low High

Valentine 2.5m / 8ftEarly August– mid August

Some Good

Juliet 2m / 6.5ftEarly – Mid August

Low High

Crimson Passion

1.75m / 5.5ft

Mid August Least of 6 Average

Cupid 2m / 6.5ftLate August –early Sept

Low Moderate

Cultivar Comparisons

Uses Other

SK Carmine Jewel

ProcessingFresh

RomeoFresh eatProcessing

Juice

Can be over‐productive –needs regular pruning

ValentineProcessing

PiesOne of most productive

Tart flavour

JulietExcellent freshProcessing

Some people think this is the best fresh selection

Crimson PassionExcellent freshProcessing

More firm flesh

CupidVery good fresh

Processing

Slightly astringent1 week later bloomingDifferent genetics

Evans Cherry 3‐4m / 10‐15ft

2.5m / 7ft

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Evans

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Bright red ? Disk Medium ?

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

August Lots Variable ProcessingCan have winter injury issues

SK Carmine Jewel 2m / 6.5ft

2m / 6.5ftSK Carmine Jewel

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Dark purple skin & flesh

3.5 Round Small 16‐18

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

Late July –early August

Low HighProcessing

Fresh

Romeo2m / 6.5ft

2m / 6.5ftRomeo

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Dark red to black

4 Round SmallSweeter than SCJ

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

Late August– early Sept

Low HighFresh eatProcessing

Juice

Can be over‐productive –needs regular 

pruning

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2.5m / 8ft

2.5m / 8ft

Valentine

Valentine

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Medium red 4.5 Round Small ?

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

Early – mid August

Some GoodProcessing

Pies

One of most productiveTart flavour

Juliet2m / 6.5ft

2m / 6.5ftJuliet

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Dark red 5 Round Large 20

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

Early – Mid August

Low HighExcellent fresh

Processing

Some people think this is the 

best freshselection

Crimson Passion

1.75m / 5.5 ft

1.75m / 5.5ftCrimson Passion

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Dark red 6 Round Large 22‐24

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

Mid August Least of 6 AverageExcellent fresh

Processing

More firm flesh

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2m / 6.5ft

2m / 6.5ft

Cupid

Cupid

Fruit ColourAvg Fruit 

Size (grams)Pit Shape Pit Size ° Brix

Dark red to black

6.5 Elongated Large 15‐18

Average Maturation

Time

Amount of Suckering

Productivity Uses Other

Late August –early Sept

Low ModerateVery good 

freshProcessing

Slightly astringent1 week later blooming

Different genetics

MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER OCTOBER+

Blue Honeysuckle ? ?Day Neutral Strawberry ? ? ?EverbearingStrawberry ? ? ?June Bearing Strawberry

Saskatoon Berry

FloricaneRaspberry

(Summerbearing)

PrimocaneRaspberry

(Fall bearing)

Sour Cherry

Currant / Gooseberry

Chokecherry

Plum

Apple

Hazelnuts

Grapes

Pears

Sea Buckthorn

Late MayEarly June

LateJune

Early July

Late JulyEarly Aug

Late AugEarly Sept

Average Maturation Time

Crimson Passion

Juliet

Valentine

Cupid

SK Carmine Jewel

Romeo

QUESTIONS???

Rob Spencer, BSA, MSc, P.Ag.Commercial Horticulture Specialist

Alberta Ag‐Info Centre

310‐FARM

robert.spencer@gov.ab.ca