(Prunus cerasus)

Evans cherry

The best known sour cherry in the West has to be the Evans cherry. Dr. Ieuen Evans, a plant pathologist with Alberta Agriculture, noticed cherry trees growing quite successfully in the Edmonton area in the 1970’s, where cherry trees were not supposed to be hardy. He was delighted by what he saw in a Fort Saskatchewan garden and he has worked hard to spread the word. Working with DNA Gardens to propagate it, he has been able to make the Evans cherry the best-selling cherry tree in Canada!

It grows 8-10 feet tall, with masses of white blossoms in the spring, which develop into gorgeous bright red fruit with translucent yellow flesh in late July. Fruit left on the plant will develop sweeter flavour later in the summer. It is self-pollinating, so only one plant is needed to produce fruit. Plant 6-8 feet apart in rows 18 feet apart. Brix rating of 13.

Rose cherry

This shrub cherry grows to only 3-5 feet tall and has large fruit (5-7 gram). Produces fruit in 2-3 years.