The best cherry varieties for productive cherry trees

'Belle Magnifique': a heritage, productive cherry variety

The ‘Belle Magnifique’ cherry tree is an old cherry variety resulting from a cross-breeding between sweet bigarreau cherries and tart morello cherries. It produces what are called guignes: round, bright scarlet cherries, with tender flesh, sweet and slightly tart, similar to bigarreau cherries but juicier. These flavoursome cherries are delicious eaten fresh or in clafoutis, tarts or jam.

This self-fertile cherry tree, ideal for small gardens, bears fruit from mid-July. It is very hardy (down to -15 °C), but dislikes very dry or scorching summers. To optimise harvest, plant it near another cherry variety, such as ‘Burlat’, ‘Reverchon’, ‘Marmotte’ or ‘Napoléon’.

‘Belle Magnifique’, a variety with tart cherries

'Burlat': must-have sweet cherry for early-season harvests

The ‘Burlat’ cherry tree is a very popular cherry variety, considered one of the best table cherries. This early and productive Bigarreau cherry tree produces large dark-red fruits from late May, with firm, crisp, juicy flesh and a very sweet flavour. Ideal for eating fresh, this cherry is also perfect for tarts, jams or clafoutis.

This variety is not self-fertile: it needs a pollinating variety nearby, such as ‘Napoléon’, ‘Reverchon’ or ‘Van’, to ensure good fruit set. The ‘Burlat’ cherry tree is an excellent choice if you are looking for an early-harvest, abundant and flavoursome cherry variety.

Burlat cherry, a delicious cherry variety with very large fruits

'Napoléon': a cherry tree variety with large, crisp fruits

Cherry ‘Bigarreau Napoléon‘ is an old, vigorous and much‑prized variety. From early June it produces large two‑coloured fruits, yellow marbled with red, with white, juicy and crunchy flesh. Their colourless juice does not stain, making them convenient to eat fresh or as dessert.

These firm, fragrant cherries are equally suited to preserving or to turning into jams, tarts, clafoutis or eaux‑de‑vie. Not self‑fertile, this Bigarreau cherry requires presence of another compatible variety, such as ‘Burlat’ or ‘Van’, to set fruit well. It is also recognised as a good pollinator for other cherry varieties.

Firm and sweet, Bigarreau ‘Napoléon’ cherry variety

'Cœur de Pigeon': a firm, flavoursome, old-fashioned cherry

‘Cœur de Pigeon’ cherry tree is a timeless classic among old cherry varieties. It produces in June very large heart-shaped fruits with shiny light red skin and yellow, firm, crisp and slightly tart flesh. These tasty cherries are eaten fresh or used in tarts, clafoutis, cakes, jams or fruit salads.

This vigorous cherry tree is not self-fertile: it must be planted close to a Bigarreau ‘Napoléon’ or ‘Burlat’ cherry tree to ensure effective pollination and a good crop.

‘Cœur de Pigeon’ cherry variety is very tasty

‘Van’: an excellent polliniser and very productive cherry tree

‘Van’ cherry tree is a cherry variety renowned for its productivity and ability to pollinate many Bigarreau cherry trees. Although not self-fertile, it can be effectively pollinated by ‘Napoléon’ or ‘Burlat’ when planted nearby.

From mid-June, it produces abundantly dark red, glossy cherries with firm, crisp, sweet flesh and a small stone, enjoyed both fresh and in baking. Fruits show good resistance to cracking, a real asset in case of rain. Like all Bigarreau cherry varieties, they are perfect for clafoutis, tarts or jams.

Bigarreau ‘Van’ cherry variety

‘Hâtif Delbard® Rivedel’: for very early cherries in the garden

Bigarreau ‘Hâtif Delbard® Rivedel’ cherry is an early cherry variety, vigorous and well suited to most regions. It stands out for early fruiting — from 5 to 6 years — and regular, generous yields.

This cherry, resistant to dry climates, adapts to a wide variety of soils. From early June it produces very large dark-red fruits with firm flesh, sweet flavour and little tendency to split, ideal for eating fresh or for processing.

Not self-fertile, this cherry variety requires the presence of another compatible cherry such as ‘Délice de Malicorne®’ or ‘Burlat’ to ensure good fruiting.

Early cherry tree producing fruit in early June

‘Cherry Boop®’: original compact cherry tree with large fruit

Cherry tree ‘Cherry Boop ®’ is a dwarf variety, ideal for small spaces. It forms a compact tree, not exceeding 2 metres in height, perfect for container growing on a terrace, a balcony or in a small garden.

Self-fertile and very early, this cherry tree bears its first fruits from 4–5 years after planting, then produces on average up to 15 kg of cherries per year after a few seasons. In July, it produces large red fruits, tasty and sweet, with firm, juicy flesh, worthy of the best cherry varieties.

Dwarf cherry tree variety ‘Cherry Boop’

'Reverchon': a hardy variety well suited to cold regions

Bigarreau ‘Reverchon’ cherry tree is a robust cherry variety, perfectly suited to regions with harsh winters. From mid-June it bears large deep-red cherries with crisp, sweet, flavoursome flesh that resist splitting well. Vigorous and long-lived.

This cherry tree is not self-fertile: it requires a pollinating variety nearby, such as ‘Napoléon’, ‘Burlat’ or ‘Hedelfingen’, to ensure abundant, regular harvest.

Bigarreau ‘Reverchon’ cherry

‘Griotte de Montmorency’: the benchmark for sour cherries

The variety ‘Griotte de Montmorency’ is an heirloom variety of tart cherry, renowned for its juicy, tart fruits, with bright red skin, tender flesh and colourless juice. These tart cherries are ideal for processing into jams, preserves, liqueurs or distilled spirits.

Harvest begins as early as June. Self-fertile, this compact cherry tree does not need to be planted with another variety to set fruit, making it one of the best cherry trees for small gardens.

‘Montmorency’ tart cherry variety is perfect for making distilled spirits (Photo: A. Brewing)

‘Griotella® Frumi’: dwarf cherry tree ideal for small gardens

Here is a very remarkable cherry variety! Griotella® dwarf cherry ‘Frumi’ is a compact and highly decorative sour cherry variety, grafted on a 1/4 stem, with a slightly weeping habit. It reaches barely 2 metres in height at ripeness, making it an ideal cherry tree for container growing or small gardens.

Self-fertile and very productive from an early age, it yields from June beautiful glossy red cherries with melting, tangy flesh, perfect for jams or red-berry desserts.

A miniature cherry tree that is both attractive and prolific, designed for small spaces.

A dwarf cherry tree perfect for small spaces