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Sweet Varieties
The following list of sweet cherry varieties are all self-unfertile and will require a compatible pollen source. Before ordering from a nursery, be sure the varieties you have chosen are compatible.
Vista: A nearly black, excellent-quality fruit, 7/8 inch in size. It ripens around the last week in June.
Ulster: A medium-sized, firm, dark-skinned, dark-fleshed cherry introduced from New York. Harvest is approximately 2 days after Vista.
Viva: Released from the Vineland Research Station in Canada. The fruit is dark red and 3/4 inch in diameter. It ripens around July 4.
Hartland: Early season crack-resistant black cherry. It is a vigorous tree that crops consistently and ripens around July 4.
Royalton: Released from the New York Agricultural Experiment Station as a large dark sweet cherry, it has high sugar levels in the fruit and is somewhat crack resistant. It is cross-compatible with Emperor Francis, Kristin, Sam, Schmidt, and Ulster.
Emperor Francis: A large, high-quality cherry of the Napoleon type, but less subject to cracking. It can be used either for brining or for fresh use. The fruit has an attractive red blush over a yellowish background. The harvest date is approximately 1 week after Vista.
Sam: An early ripening, large, black sweet cherry. The tree is large, vigorous, and upright, and it blooms later than most other sweets. The fruit has good resistance to rain-induced cracking. The harvest date is approximately 11 days after Vista. Sam is pollen incompatible with Royalton and Schmidt.
Kristin: Introduced from Norway, the fruit averages 1 inch in diameter. It is of a good quality, combining good flavor and high sugar content. It has moderate resistance to rain cracking. Harvest is approximately the last week in June in southcentral Pennsylvania. Kristin is pollen incompatible with Somerset and Group I cherries.
Viscount: Introduced in 1983 from Canada, it produces medium-large, firm, good-quality, dark glossy-red cherries. It is productive and has good crack resistance. Harvest is approximately July 2 in southcentral Pennsylvania.
Hedelfingen: This is a medium-large, firm, good-quality black cherry with moderate resistance to cracking. Trees are early bearing and very productive. Harvest is approximately July 3 in southcentral Pennsylvania.