Stella Cherry (Prunus avium ‘Stella’) is a classic self-pollinating (self-fertile) sweet cherry producing large, heart-shaped dark red fruit with rich, sweet flavour on a vigorous, productive tree. Bred in Canada and selected in 1963, Stella was one of the world’s first self-pollinating sweet cherries and helped revolutionise cherry growing for home gardeners and small orchards. It remains highly regarded for its reliable crops, attractive spring blossom and excellent fresh eating quality.
- Uses: Eating fresh, cooking, preserving, desserts
- Pollination: Self-pollinating (self-fertile); can also pollinate other sweet cherries
- Harvest: Mid-season; late December to January in southern Australia
- Chill requirements: Suitable for temperate climates; moderate winter chill required (400 chill hours required)
- Attributes: Vigorous, productive, reliable and hardy
- Features: Large dark red heart-shaped fruit, sweet flavour, attractive white spring blossom, one of the first self-fertile sweet cherries
- Also known as: Sweet Cherry ‘Stella’
For helpful advice, see our Pollination Guide, and Care and Planting Instructions. Consider adding an engraved label to your order so you always know the name of your new tree—and order extra labels for the rest of your garden and orchard collection.
References incl:
Glowinski, L. (1997) The complete book of fruit growing in Australia. Lothian, Port Melbourne, Australia.
Foundation Plant Services. (Accessed 24/5/2026). Cherry tree listings. University of California, Davis.
Bright, J. and Marie, S. (2004) Cherry growing in NSW Agfact H5.1.2, Second Edition. NSW Agriculture.
University of Saskatchewan Fruit Program. (n.d.). Sweet cherry breeding history and varieties.
Images:
Images 1,2,3: Copyright Heritage Fruit Trees
Image 4 (accessed 30/3/2015)
