Overview

Cultivate your own delicious fruit with the compact stella cherry tree, a self-fertile variety prized for its abundant harvest of sweet, dark red cherries. This live plant arrives at your doorstep approximately 3 feet tall, ready to thrive in your garden or a large container. The Stella cherry (Prunus avium ‘Stella’) is a popular choice for home gardeners due to its reliable fruit production and manageable size. Originating as a cross between Lambert and Star cherries, the Compact Stella offers all the delightful qualities of its parentage in a more compact form, making it an excellent option for those with limited space. Enjoy the satisfaction of picking your own premium quality fruit right from your backyard, bringing a touch of orchard charm to any landscape.

This particular compact stella cherry tree is a fantastic addition for anyone looking to grow their own fruit without the need for a second tree for pollination. Its compact growth habit means it can fit into smaller gardens or even be grown in large patio containers. The beautiful white blossoms in spring herald the promise of summer’s bounty, making it an attractive ornamental plant as well as a productive fruit bearer.

Key Benefits

The compact stella cherry tree offers numerous advantages for the home gardener, combining ease of care with a bountiful harvest. Its unique characteristics make it a standout choice:

• Self-Pollinating Convenience

  Unlike many cherry varieties, the Stella cherry is self-fertile, meaning you only need one tree to produce fruit. This simplifies planting and ensures a consistent harvest without needing a pollinator partner.

• Delicious Dark Red Fruit

  Enjoy an abundance of firm, sweet, and juicy dark red cherries that are perfect for fresh eating, baking, or preserving. The fruit ripens reliably in June and July, offering a delightful summer treat.

• Compact Growth Habit

  Its naturally compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens, urban spaces, or even growing in large containers on patios. This allows more gardeners to enjoy fresh cherries, regardless of garden size.

• Ornamental Value

  Beyond its fruit, the compact stella cherry tree boasts beautiful white blossoms in spring, adding significant aesthetic appeal to your landscape before the fruit even appears. Its attractive foliage provides year-round interest.

• Reliable Producer

  Known for its consistent and heavy yields, this sweet cherry tree is a dependable choice for those seeking a productive fruit tree that delivers year after year.

• Disease Resistance

  The Stella cherry exhibits good resistance to cracking, a common issue with other cherry varieties, ensuring a higher quality and more usable harvest.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your compact stella cherry tree is straightforward, ensuring a healthy plant and abundant fruit. Cherry trees thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Choose a location in your garden that receives ample sun exposure throughout the day to encourage optimal fruiting. Good air circulation is also beneficial to prevent fungal diseases.

Watering is crucial, especially during the tree’s establishment phase and dry periods. Keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Deep watering once or twice a week is generally more effective than frequent shallow watering. The soil should be well-draining, preferably a loamy soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter to improve drainage. This dwarf cherry plant is hardy in USDA zones 5-8, tolerating winter temperatures down to -20°F (-29°C), though protection may be needed in the colder parts of its range during severe frosts.

Fertilize your stella cherry tree care with a balanced slow-release fertilizer in early spring before new growth begins. Follow the product instructions for application rates. Pruning should be done in late winter or early spring while the tree is dormant to shape the tree, remove dead or diseased branches, and encourage fruit production. Aim for an open canopy to improve air circulation and light penetration. Watch out for common pests like aphids and cherry fruit flies, and treat with organic pesticides or horticultural oils if necessary. Proper care will ensure your tree remains vigorous and productive for many years.

Size & Details

This compact stella cherry tree is supplied as a live plant, approximately 3 feet tall from the base of the pot to the top of the plant. It is shipped securely in a 3-gallon nursery pot, providing a robust root system ready for planting. When mature, this compact variety typically reaches a height of 10-15 feet and a spread of 8-12 feet, making it an excellent choice for smaller landscapes or container gardening. Its moderate growth rate means you won’t have to wait long to enjoy its delicious fruit.

The fruit of the Stella cherry ripens in late June to early July, depending on your specific climate zone. Expect your tree to begin producing fruit within 3-5 years of planting. With proper care, this tree will provide many seasons of sweet, homegrown cherries. The 3-gallon pot size ensures the plant has a strong start, allowing for smooth transplantation into your garden or a larger permanent container.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this compact stella cherry tree get at maturity? A: This compact variety typically reaches a mature height of 10-15 feet with a spread of 8-12 feet, making it suitable for smaller gardens or large containers. Its manageable size is one of its key attractive features.

• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The compact stella cherry tree is an outdoor plant, requiring full sun exposure and suitable for USDA zones 5-8. While young plants can be temporarily housed indoors during extreme weather, they are not designed for permanent indoor growth.

• Q: How much sunlight does a sweet cherry tree need? A: A sweet cherry tree, including the Stella variety, thrives in full sun, needing at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day to produce the best fruit. Choose a sunny spot in your garden for optimal results.

• Q: Is this plant easy to care for, especially for beginners? A: Yes, the stella cherry tree care is considered relatively easy, especially for a fruit tree. Its self-pollinating nature and good disease resistance make it a great choice for beginner gardeners looking to grow their own cherries.

• Q: What condition will the cherry tree arrive in? A: Your cherry tree for sale will arrive as a healthy, live plant, approximately 3 feet tall, securely shipped in a 3-gallon nursery pot with its root system intact and ready for planting. We take great care in packaging to ensure safe delivery.

• Q: How long until this dwarf cherry plant starts producing fruit? A: Typically, a dwarf cherry plant like the Compact Stella will begin to bear fruit within 3-5 years after planting. With good care, you can expect consistent harvests once it matures.

• Q: What is the best time to plant this cherry tree? A: The best time to plant your compact stella cherry tree is in early spring after the last frost, or in early fall before the ground freezes. This allows the tree to establish its root system before extreme temperatures.