Early Star Sweet Cherry is a distinctly early-ripening sweet cherry from the Italian 'Star' series, bred by crossing the classic Bigarreau Burlat with Stella. Self-fertile and suited to zones 5 through 7, this cultivar delivers the reward of ripe cherries weeks ahead of standard varieties, making it a standout choice for gardeners in cooler climates who thought sweet cherries were out of reach. Its parentage speaks to decades of careful breeding aimed at bringing reliable, early crops to northern orchards.
Full Sun
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5-7
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Moderate
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Early Star earns its name honestly: this cherry ripens significantly earlier than most sweet cherry varieties, a trait that matters enormously for gardeners in zones 5 and 6 where late spring frosts and early fall weather can sabotage later-season crops. The fact that it's self-fertile means you don't need a second tree for pollination, a practical advantage that simplifies orchard planning. Its Italian breeding heritage ensures the sweet, complex flavor you expect from stone fruits, delivered on a tree that thrives in full sun and handles heat stress without complaint.
Early Star cherries are grown primarily for fresh eating, where their early ripening allows home gardeners and small-scale growers to harvest ripe fruit before birds and weather become problematic. The early season also means you can enjoy sweet cherries fresh from the tree during early to mid-summer, a genuine luxury in cooler climates where cherry season typically arrives later or not at all. Like most sweet cherries, they can be preserved through canning, freezing, or drying, though their appeal lies chiefly in fresh consumption.
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Plant bareroot or container-grown Early Star cherry trees in early spring, as soon as the ground is workable, or in fall in zone 7. Choose a location with full sun exposure. Space trees at least 20 to 25 feet apart to allow for mature canopy spread and air circulation. Dig a planting hole no deeper than the tree's root collar and wide enough to accommodate the root system comfortably; backfill with native soil mixed lightly with compost. Water thoroughly after planting and keep the soil consistently moist (but not waterlogged) through the first growing season.
Harvest Early Star cherries when they reach full color and yield slightly to a gentle squeeze, typically in early to mid-summer depending on your zone. The fruit should detach easily from the stem with a light twist; if it resists, wait another day or two. Pick in the cool of early morning for the best flavor and shelf life. Early ripening is the defining trait of this variety, so monitor your tree closely once flowering finishes; you may be harvesting ripe cherries while other cherry varieties in the neighborhood are still weeks away from maturity.
Prune Early Star in late winter or early spring while the tree is still dormant. Focus on creating an open, vase-shaped canopy with three to five main scaffold branches that angle outward at 45 to 60 degrees from the central trunk. Remove any crossing or rubbing branches, dead wood, and inward-growing shoots that would shade the interior of the tree. Avoid heavy pruning, which removes flowering wood and reduces the following year's crop; light, annual pruning is far more effective than occasional severe cutting. As the tree matures, maintain this open structure through selective thinning rather than heading back branches.
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“Early Star originates from the 'Star' cherry breeding program in Italy, part of a focused effort to develop sweet cherry cultivars suited to cooler growing regions. It was created by crossing two established sweet cherry varieties: Bigarreau Burlat, a French cultivar known for its early ripening habit, and Stella, a Canadian-bred self-fertile cherry that revolutionized home cherry growing by eliminating the need for pollinizer trees. This cross combined the strengths of both parents: Burlat's early season and Stella's self-fertility, producing a cherry that could reliably set fruit in zones 5 and 6 without the complexity of managing multiple trees.”