Romeo Bush Cherry
That which we call a bush cherry, by any other name would they taste so sweet? Is Romeo a slightly tart sweet cherry or an incredibly sweet tart cherry, thou shalt decide. Either way it is an excellent addition to the dwarf cherry category, producing delicious dark red cherries that are crack resistant and have an excellent flesh to pit ratio. Fruits can be eaten fresh or made into jam, wine or canned.
Latin Name: Prunus fruticosa x Prunus cerasus
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full sun and well-drained soil.
Pollination Requirements: Romeo bush cherry is self-fertile.
Hardiness: Hardy to minus 40° F.
Bearing Age: 2-3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 6-12 ft. in height
Bloom Time: March-April
Ripening Time: Mid-summer
Yield: 10-15 lbs.
Pests & Diseases: Bacterial Canker can damage cherries. 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 tree with netting or use flash tape to scare them away.
USDA Zone: 3-9
Sunset Western Zone: A1-A3; 1-3, 10
Sunset Northeast Zone: 34-45