Stardust

‘Stardust’ is a late-ripening Canadian variety selected at the Summerland Research Station in British Columbia. It is distinguished by its large, two-coloured fruit, high productivity and self-fertility.

The large to very large cherry is rounded to slightly heart-shaped. Its skin has a cream-yellow background, extensively dotted and blushed with bright red, with the colour becoming more intense according to sun exposure and stage of ripeness.

The cream-coloured flesh is firm, fleshy and exceptionally juicy, with clear juice. Its flavour is richly sweet, mild and aromatic, sometimes with a subtle spicy note. The fruit is excellent for eating fresh, while its distinctive colouring also makes it particularly attractive in desserts, fruit salads and preserves.

Harvest is late and generally takes place during the second half of July, approximately one to two weeks after ‘Van’. Several pickings may be required to harvest each fruit when its colour and sugar content are at their best.

The tree has moderate to strong vigour and develops a broad, spreading habit, with naturally fairly horizontal branches. It begins cropping relatively quickly and produces exceptionally heavy, regular crops while generally maintaining good fruit size.

The fruit has moderate to fairly high susceptibility to rain cracking. Its pale skin can also be marked by rubbing caused by wind, so a sheltered position is preferable.

‘Stardust’ is self-fertile and has the S-allele genotype S1S4′. Its late flowering and pollen compatibility with many varieties also make it a useful pollinator for other cherry trees flowering at the same time.