Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm Mountain time
Juliet Cherry vs Opata Cherry Plum
Prunus x kerrasis Juliet
Prunus besseyi x salicina Opata
SOLD OUT
NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON
(new stock expected: fall of 2025)
Juliet Cherry is a cold-hardy dwarf sour cherry. The deep burgundy fruit are known for being sweeter than other varieties, often considered one of the sweetest dwarf sour cherries. They are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves. In the spring, beautiful white flowers cover the branches, adding ornamental value.
Juliet Cherry was developed at the University of Saskatchewan. It is recommended to grow dwarf sour cherries as a shrub rather than a small tree. The shrub form tends to bear fruit earlier and is less susceptible to winterkill.
Sour cherries are self-fertile; however, planting with additional varieties for cross-pollination can increase yields.
Opata Cherry Plum is considered to be one of the best tasting Cherry Plum varieties. It has a pleasant, sweet flavour and a hint of acidity. They ripen in mid to late August and are well suited to fresh eating, baking, and preserves.
The fruit is closer to a plum than a cherry but is smaller than most plums.The Opata Cherry Plum’s skin is red/green whereas the flesh is yellow-green. The flesh is freestone with a juicy, firm texture. Similar to other stone fruits, it does not store for very long.
The Opata Cherry Plum is a hybrid between a Western Sand Cherry and a Japanese (Chinese) Plum. For fruit production, it needs to be planted with another variety for cross-pollination. Canada Plum and American Plum are considered universal pollinizers.