North Star

American selection variety. Developed in the state of Minnesota from crossing the Schattenmorelle variety with a seedling grown from an unknown cherry seed received in 1918 from Serbia. Included in state trials in 1985.

The tree is low-growing, with a rounded, compact, moderately dense crown. Bark of the trunk and branches is dark brown. Leaves are small, 75 x 40 mm, narrowly oval, glossy. Flowers form in clusters of 3-4, small, 25 mm in diameter, shallow bowl-shaped; petals are broadly oval, slightly fringed, touching; stigma is positioned above or below the anthers; calyx is cup-shaped, with strong sunburn on the sunny side; pedicel is short, 20 mm, with bracteoles. Fruit set is mixed, main yield forms on 1-2-3-year-old branches.

Fruits are round to broadly round, 17.5 x 19.7 x 17.3 mm, average weight 4 g (up to 4.5 g), dark red, with rounded apex and narrow depression, ventral suture slightly flattened. Flesh is red, fibrous, tender, very juicy, sweet-sour, good flavor; juice is red. Fruits contain 13% dry matter, 9.2% sugars, 1.5% free acids, 16.0 mg ascorbic acid per 100 g fresh weight. Pit is 7.0 x 6.0 x 6.0 mm, 0.2 g, making up 5% of fruit weight, rounded, easily separates from flesh. Peduncle is 41-44 mm, with 1-2 persistent bracteoles, detaches from fruit with dry separation. Main use is for technical processing, as well as fresh consumption.

Grafted plants begin fruiting 2-3 years after planting. Flowering period is late, fruits ripen late as well. Shows partial self-fertility, better fruiting in mixed plantings with Meteor, Neffris, Oblachinskaya. Moderately cold-hardy: at -32°C, 57% of generative buds remained undamaged; at -40°C — 30%. Shows field resistance to coccomycosis and clasterosporosis (infestation up to 1.0 point). High productivity.

The North Star variety, as a low-growing, relatively cold-hardy and productive variety, is of interest for cultivation in southern regions, as well as central regions of Russia, however, more in-depth study of its adaptive properties in specific soil-climate conditions is required.

Advantages: low plant growth and compact crown, allowing use in intensive gardens, suitability for mechanized harvest.

Disadvantages: excessive fruit acidity.