Description:

A new hardy sour cherry introduction with bright red fruit; this tart variety is best used for pies and preserves; high yields can be expected from this self-pollinator; pruned to a single stem

Edible Qualities

Valentine Cherry (tree form) is a small tree that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces cherry red round fruit (technically 'drupes') with red flesh which are usually ready for picking in late summer. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a tart taste and a firm texture.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves

Features & Attributes

Valentine Cherry (tree form) features showy clusters of fragrant white flowers along the branches in mid spring. It has green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy cherry red drupes carried in abundance in late summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

This is a deciduous tree with a strong central leader and an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This is a high maintenance plant that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Valentine Cherry (tree form) is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• General Garden Use
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Valentine Cherry (tree form) will grow to be about 12 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 7 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 3 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This tree is typically grown in a designated area of the yard because of its mature size and spread. It should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This particular variety is an interspecific hybrid.