Cherry Duo 'Stella' & 'Sunburst'

Where to Plant
Choose an open, sunny and preferably sheltered position with moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. Plenty of sunshine helps the cherries develop their best sweetness and flavour. Avoid frost pockets and ground that regularly becomes waterlogged, and allow enough room for the tree's mature canopy to develop.

When to Plant
Bare-root fruit trees are best planted while dormant, from late autumn to early spring. Avoid planting when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.

Preparing Your Tree
Unpack your tree promptly and soak the roots in a bucket of water before planting to make sure they are well hydrated. Dig a generous planting hole wide enough for the roots to spread naturally without bending or crowding them.

Planting Your Bare-Root Tree
Look for the soil mark on the stem showing the level at which the tree was previously growing. Position the tree at approximately the same depth, making sure the graft union remains clearly above soil level. Spread the roots naturally, backfill with the excavated soil and gently firm as you go to remove large air pockets. Water thoroughly after planting to settle the soil around the roots.

Staking
Stake the tree when planting to keep it stable while its roots establish. Secure with a suitable tree tie and check the tie regularly, loosening it as the trunk grows. Once the tree is firmly established and able to support itself, the stake can be removed.

Watering
Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged during the first growing season, particularly during warm or dry weather. Established trees may also need additional water during prolonged dry spells, especially while the cherries are developing and swelling.

Feeding & Mulching
Apply a suitable fruit tree fertiliser in spring to support healthy growth, flowering and cropping. Add a 5–10cm layer of well-rotted garden compost or organic mulch around the base to help retain moisture and suppress weeds, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk.

Pruning Your Twin Cherry Tree
Cherries are best pruned during the growing season rather than in winter. Remove dead, damaged or crossing growth where necessary and maintain an open, balanced framework. Because two varieties share the same tree, keep an eye on their growth and prevent one variety from becoming significantly more dominant than the other.

Protecting Your Crop
Birds enjoy ripe cherries just as much as we do. If you want to keep the harvest for yourself, protect the developing crop with suitable fruit-tree netting, making sure it is securely fitted and regularly checked.

Do I Need Another Cherry Tree?
No. Both 'Stella' and 'Sunburst' are self-fertile, so your twin tree can produce fruit without another cherry variety growing nearby. This makes it a particularly useful way to enjoy two different cherries from a single planting space.

Encouraging a Good Crop
Spring blossom attracts pollinating insects, which help the flowers develop into fruit. Grow your tree in a sunny, sheltered position and avoid using insecticides while it is flowering. Protect blossom from severe late frost where practical, as damaged flowers can mean fewer cherries later in the season.

Balancing the Two Varieties
Keep an eye on the growth of both 'Stella' and 'Sunburst' as the tree develops. If one becomes noticeably more vigorous, careful summer pruning can help maintain a good balance so both varieties have space to grow, flower and fruit.

When Will My Tree Fruit?
Your twin cherry tree may produce its first fruits within a few years of planting, with crops becoming more generous as the tree establishes and matures. Growing conditions, pruning and the weather during flowering can all influence how quickly it begins to crop.

When to Harvest
Both 'Stella' and 'Sunburst' are summer cherries, with fruit generally ready to pick during July. Exact timing will vary depending on the weather, your location and growing conditions.

Picking 'Stella'
'Stella' develops large, dark red cherries that ripen in July. Pick once the fruits are fully coloured, sweet and juicy, checking the tree regularly as the crop begins to ripen.

Picking 'Sunburst'
'Sunburst' produces particularly large, dark red cherries with sweet, juicy flesh. Allow the fruits to develop their full colour and flavour before picking.

How to Pick
Handle ripe cherries gently to avoid bruising. Pick regularly as the fruits reach their best rather than feeling you need to harvest the entire tree at once.

Top Tip:
Colour is a useful guide, but tasting a ripe-looking cherry is one of the best ways to judge whether the crop is ready. Once they're sweet, juicy and richly coloured, it's time to start picking.

'Stella' – Rich & Sweet
'Stella' produces large, juicy cherries with a rich, sweet flavour. They're particularly good picked fresh and eaten straight from the tree, but are equally delicious in summer desserts, baking and preserves.

'Sunburst' – Large & Juicy
'Sunburst' is known for its particularly large, juicy cherries with a deliciously sweet flavour. Enjoy them fresh by the handful, add to fruit salads and desserts, or use them in baking.

Fresh from the Tree
Sweet cherries are at their best freshly picked, making this one harvest that may never quite make it as far as the kitchen. Chill them before serving on a hot summer day, or pair with yoghurt, cream or ice cream for a simple dessert.

Storing Your Cherries
Fresh cherries don't store for long, so they're best enjoyed soon after harvesting. Keep unwashed cherries in the fridge for short-term storage and wash them just before eating.

Preserving & Freezing
If you have more cherries than you can eat fresh, remove the stones and freeze the fruit for later use in desserts and baking. Cherries are also excellent for jams, compotes, sauces and preserves.

Bare-Root Trees
Your bare-root tree will arrive dormant, without a pot or compost around its roots, ready for planting. It may have no leaves at this stage, which is completely normal – once temperatures rise in spring, it will naturally come back into active growth. Unpack your tree promptly, keep the roots moist and plant as soon as possible.

Why Has My Tree Been Pruned?
Your tree may be pruned before despatch to encourage strong, well-branched growth. This helps it establish a balanced shape and encourages healthy, productive growth as both varieties develop.

What Is a Twin Fruit Tree?
A twin fruit tree has two different fruiting varieties grafted onto a single rootstock. On this tree, both 'Stella' and 'Sunburst' grow from the same root system, allowing you to enjoy two different varieties of sweet cherry from one tree.

What Does Colt Mean?
Colt is a semi-vigorous cherry rootstock that helps control the tree's growth and eventual size while supporting healthy, productive growth.

What Does Grafted Mean?
Grafting joins the chosen fruiting varieties to a compatible rootstock so they grow together as one tree. You may notice raised areas where the different parts have been joined – these graft unions are a normal part of the tree.

If You Can't Plant Straight Away
If planting is delayed, keep the bare roots cool, moist and protected. For more than a short delay, temporarily heel the roots into moist soil in a sheltered position until conditions are suitable for planting.

After Planting
Water regularly while your tree establishes, particularly during dry weather in its first growing season. Mulching around the base in spring will help conserve moisture and suppress weeds, but always leave a clear gap around the trunk.