Plant Guide

Other Names:  Starkrimson Sweet Cherry, Mazzard Cherry

Description:

A semi-dwarf selection with showy white flowers in spring followed by sweet, bright red cherries in early summer; compact and upright, ideal for smaller landscapes; needs full sun and well drained soil; a good pollinator for other varieties

Edible Qualities

Lapins Cherry is a large shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces red round fruit (technically 'drupes') with dark red flesh which are usually ready for picking in early summer. The fruit will often fade to black over time. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a sweet taste and a juicy texture.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Fresh Eating
• Baking
• Preserves

Features & Attributes

Lapins Cherry is draped in stunning clusters of fragrant white flowers hanging below the branches in early spring before the leaves. It has dark green deciduous foliage. The pointy leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy red drupes which fade to black over time, which are carried in abundance in early summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up. The smooth dark red bark adds an interesting dimension to the landscape.

This is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with a shapely oval form. 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 plant will require occasional maintenance 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. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Aside from its primary use as an edible, Lapins Cherry is sutiable for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Orchard/Edible Landscaping

Planting & Growing

Lapins Cherry will grow to be about 18 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 18 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 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 50 years or more. This variety requires a different selection of the same species growing nearby in order to set fruit.

This shrub 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 is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America.