Fruit

Stella

A tier

Stella broke open modern sweet-cherry breeding as an early self-fertile dark cherry—medium-large heart-shaped fruit, glossy deep red skin, and juicy sweet flesh that does not demand a second cultivar for set. Flavour is open and friendly rather than ultra-winey, with enough acid to stay interesting off the tree. Trees are vigorous and productive, which helped home orchards as much as commercial trials. Excellent fresh; also pits cleanly for preserves and ice-cream fold-ins. As a pollen parent and genetic foundation, Stella’s self-fertility reshaped orchard design long after its peak market share. Fruit can soften if left past optimum, so pick for firmness when shipping.