Prunus avium Bigarreau Bigalise - Cherry Tree

The Bigarreau Bigalise® Cherry Tree 'Enjidel' produces sweet fruits with firm and crunchy flesh and a dark red and shiny skin. Its cherries have the particularity of reaching diameters of just over 3cm (1in)! Flowering starts at the end of March, avoiding destructive frosts and ensuring good production. Bigarreau cherries are delicious when eaten raw under the tree and can be used in many recipes such as clafoutis, jams, crumbles etc.

The Cherry Tree, Prunus avium, belongs to the Rosaceae family. The Bigarreau Bigalise variety 'Enjidel' is a recent discovery from the French nursery Georges Delbart. Its success is largely due to its sweet and fleshy fruits as well as its late flowering which allows it to avoid spring frosts. Like many fruit varieties, this cherry tree is not self-fertile: it will need the proximity of another variety such as 'Burlat' or Sweetheart® to bear fruit. The Bigalise cherry enjoys the prestigious sponsorship of French pastry chef Pierre Hermé, who was inspired by it to create a dessert. Its flesh is described by him as "Firm and tender, sweet and slightly acidic" and is a marvel of sweetness and flavour.

From the end of March, the cherry tree is covered in small white flowers that appear before the foliage. The fruits ripen around mid-June. The harvest can be more or less abundant depending on the year and may present an alternating (biennial bearing) phenomenon, allowing the tree to replenish its reserves. The fruit production becomes optimal after 6 to 7 years. The cherries must be picked when ripe, as they do not ripen further after harvest. This variety has the advantage of being only slightly sensitive to brown rot.

It is a vigorous and productive tree, of medium size, reaching 5 to 10m (16 to 33ft) in height at maturity. Hardy, it can withstand temperatures down to -20 °C, though the flowers are sensitive to spring frosts and are damaged at -2 °C. Its rounded habit provides a beautiful shaded space, very pleasant during summer. Its alternate, toothed leaves are shiny and dark green, then take on a lovely russet colour in autumn before falling. Adapted to most regions, cherry trees can be planted in a lawn, at the back of a flowerbed, or in an orchard. Ideally plant in autumn or spring, with regular watering.

For transport reasons, our taller scions may be pruned before shipping. They are suitable for all common training sizes: cordons, espaliers, goblets, half-standards, and low standards - everything except for the formation of tall standards. If you would like more information or advice on training your fruit trees, do not hesitate to contact us.

This fruit tree is delivered with a 'ready-to-plant' root ball. During planting, the root ball should be planted as it is. The biodegradable tontine that surrounds the root ball and preserves the rootlets will decompose naturally during the plant's growth. By doing so, you ensure better recovery.