Annabella

‘Annabella’ is a German variety selected at the Jork fruit research station, particularly valued for its hardiness, distinctive drooping habit and the good resistance of its fruit to summer rainfall.

The medium-sized cherry is rounded to slightly heart-shaped or teardrop-shaped, with a clearly defined ventral suture. Its glossy skin turns dark reddish brown to almost black when fully ripe.

The dark-red flesh is moderately firm and juicy, with deeply coloured juice. Its flavour is pleasantly sweet and richly aromatic. The fruit is excellent for eating fresh and is also suitable for tarts, clafoutis, jams, juice and preserves.

Harvest generally takes place during the first half of July. The fruit has good resistance to cracking and rotting, making the variety particularly suitable for regions where rainfall is frequent during the cherry-ripening season.

The tree is very vigorous, robust and naturally healthy. It develops a distinctive habit, with flexible, drooping branches that can give it an almost weeping appearance. Crops are abundant, but regular simplification pruning helps maintain a balanced crown and ensure consistent production.

‘Annabella’ is self-sterile and has the incompatibility genotype S1S5. It must be planted with a compatible variety flowering at the same time, such as ‘Castor’, ‘Bigarreau Ghijssens’, ‘Kordia’ or ‘Ulster’.