Stella Dwarf Cherry Tree

Prunus avium

Self-fertile

Dwarf, self-fertile sweet cherry with large dark fruit.

#7 container
About 1.25" caliper

$88each, pay at pickup

Reserve

Pick up in Pittsgrove, NJ, typically in March. Pay cash, check, Venmo or PayPal at pickup.

Stella was the first self-fertile sweet cherry, released in Canada in the 1960s. It changed backyard cherry growing because one tree is enough.

The fruit is large, dark red and sweet, similar to Bing. Stella isn't naturally a dwarf: this tree is grown on a dwarfing rootstock, so it stays a manageable size and is easier to net against birds.

If you're buying only one sweet cherry, this is the one.

Stella was bred at Summerland, British Columbia, and introduced in 1968. It ripens about a week after Bing, and its fruit buds are hardier than Bing's.

How it tastes

Sweet and rich, a lot like Bing, with dark red, juicy flesh.

At a glance

You get: #7 container, about 1.25" caliper (trunk thickness 6 inches above the soil; each tree varies a little)
Hardiness zones: USDA 5–8 (Salem County is 7)
Blooms: Mid season
Ripens: Late June
Starts bearing: Usually 3–5 years after planting
Mature size: Smaller than a standard sweet cherry (dwarfing rootstock); easier to net and pick
Pollination: Self-fertile
Botanical name: Prunus avium
Price: $88 each, paid at pickup
Pickup: Pittsgrove, NJ, typically in March

The fruit

Looks: Large, dark red, heart-shaped
Flavor: Sweet
Best for: Fresh, Freezing
Keeps: 1–2 weeks in the fridge

Pollination

Self-fertile, so one tree fruits on its own. Stella is also one of the best pollinators for other sweet cherries, including Bing, Rainier and Black Tartarian.

Growing tips

Watch for: Cracking after heavy rain near harvest; cherry leaf spot and brown rot

Full sun and very good drainage. Cherries hate wet feet more than most fruit trees.
Birds love cherries. Plan on netting the tree as the fruit starts to color.
Water during dry spells, but steadily: a heavy soaking right before harvest can split ripe sweet cherries.
Prune lightly in late winter or right after harvest.

Spray schedule: Cherry Spray Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards (Rutgers Cooperative Extension, fact sheet FS115)

New to planting fruit trees? Read our step-by-step planting guide: square hole, graft above the soil, native soil, and no fruit for the first two years.

Photos show the variety, not the exact plant you’ll get. Reservations are for the 2027 season, picked up at our farm in Pittsgrove, NJ, typically in March, and aren’t guaranteed until we confirm them. Questions? Ask us or call or text (856) 345‑4538.