Northstar Pie Cherry
Try this unique and tasty pie cherry from Minnesota! Northstar Pie Cherry is self-fertile, naturally dwarf tree bears heavy crops of large, tasty, bright red fruit with red flesh and red juice. Northstar Pie Cherry grows to 6-8 ft. in height and is hardy to minus 40°F.
Latin Name: Prunus cerasus
Site and Soil: Pie Cherries like full to 1/2 day sun and well-drained soil.
Rootstock Description: Colt is considered a semi-dwarf rootstock which produces trees about 80% of standard size. Colt is adapted to most soils and is hardy, vigorous, productive, and forms a well-branched tree. Sweet Cherries on Colt rootstock can grow to 12-15 ft. in height. Compact Stella, Hungarian and Pie Cherries will be smaller.
Pollination Requirements: Self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to minus 40°F
Bearing Age: 2 – 3 years after planting.
Size at Maturity: 6-8 ft. in height
Taste: Tart
Fruit Skin: Bright red
Bloom Time: Early April
Ripening Time: July-August
Yield: 50+ lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Bacterial Canker can damage Cherry trees. Symptoms of bacterial canker are dead branches and bronze colored exudation on branches or trunk. Apply a fall and winter copper spray to help prevent damage from this disease. To repel birds, you can cover your trees with netting or use flash tape to scare them away.
USDA Zone: 3-8