Valentine Cherry Bush

Description

Valentine Cherry is hardy sour cherry introduction with large white flowers followed by bright red fruit; this tart variety is best used for pies and preserves; high yields can be expected from this self-pollinator.

Valentine Cherry is a medium-sized shrub that is commonly grown for its edible qualities. It produces cherry red round fruit (technically ‘drupes’) with red flesh which are usually ready for picking in late summer. Note that the fruits have hard inedible pits inside which must be removed before eating or processing. The fruits have a tart taste and a firm texture.

Valentine Cherry features showy clusters of fragrant white flowers along the branches in mid spring. It has green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval leaves turn yellow in fall. The fruits are showy cherry red drupes carried in abundance in late summer. The fruit can be messy if allowed to drop on the lawn or walkways, and may require occasional clean-up.

The fruit are most often used in the following ways:

• Cooking
• Baking
• Preserves

This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn’t require a second plant nearby to set fruit.