Prunus avium Bigarreau Moreau - Cherry Tree

The Cherry Tree 'Bigarreau Moreau' Organic is an old variety of medium vigour, whose productivity is sometimes irregular. Its large heart-shaped cherries, almost black when ripe, are a delight to the taste buds. Fairly resistant to splitting, its cherry has firm flesh, juicy, tasty and sweet. The tree blooms beautifully in spring, and its fruits will be harvested from late May to early June, when fully ripe. This self-sterile cherry tree requires the presence of a nearby pollinator to produce cherries. November is the most suitable month for planting a bare-root cherry tree in the garden. Plants from Organic Agriculture.

The Cherry Tree, in Latin Prunus avium, belongs to the Rosaceae family. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching a height of 5 to 10 metres at maturity. Its rounded habit provides a beautiful shaded space, very pleasant during the summer. Its alternate and toothed leaves are shiny and dark green, then they turn a lovely reddish color in autumn before falling. Cherries are rich in vitamin C, minerals and trace elements.

The 'Bigarreau Moreau' (synonyms 'Bigarreau Sandrin', 'Souvenir des Charmes') was obtained around 1895 in Charmes, in the Rhône department, and commercialized by the Moreau nurseries in Villefranche sur Saône in 1909. It is a variety widely planted in the southeast of France, where orchards are often irrigated.

The tree has a slightly upright habit, it will reach about 6 metres in height and 4.50 metres (15 feet) in width after 10 years, depending on the growing conditions. It blooms between the end of March and the beginning of April, and has good resistance to late frosts. On its bare branches, a multitude of small white flowers bloom, gathered in pairs or in charming little bouquets. But despite abundant flowering, this variety is unable to self-pollinate and requires to be associated with another variety of Bigarreau cherry flowering at the same time to bear fruit: choose Bigarreau  'Napoleon', 'Van' or 'Marmot'. Its fairly rapid fruiting occurs around 3 to 4 years.

Very hardy in most regions, the Cherry Tree 'Bigarreau Moreau' is more resistant to winter cold than to summer drought. The flowers are damaged by spring frosts, so it is recommended to plant the cherry trees in a sheltered location, facing west and protected from cold winds in regions that experience quite significant late frosts. However, the very abundant flowering often results in satisfactory fruiting. The cherry tree is a charming little tree, both delicious, ornamental, disease-resistant and almost maintenance-free. Only the fruit fly needs to be monitored: set up sticky cardboard traps or pheromone traps as soon as the cherries form on the tree. The Cherry Tree can be planted on a lawn, at the back of a flower bed or in an orchard.

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