Cherry (Sweet)
Can I Grow Stella?
Stella was the first self-fertile sweet cherry, making it possible to grow cherries in small gardens without a second tree. Dark, sweet, and productive with good disease resistance.
Growing Requirements
Chill Hours
400
Hardiness Zones
5-6-7-8-9
Harvest
June to July
Results
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Pruning dates, harvests, spray schedules, what worked. The gardeners who get the most from their trees are the ones who kept records.
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About Stella
Stella was the first self-fertile sweet cherry, making it possible to grow cherries in small gardens without a second tree. Dark, sweet, and productive with good disease resistance.
Stella requires 400 chill hours — the number of hours between 32°F and 45°F during winter dormancy. Without enough chill, the tree may fail to flower properly or produce poor fruit.
⚠️ Common Challenges
Flavor is good but not as complex as Bing; fruit is softer and doesn't store as long.
❌ Common Misconception
Will Stella produce more fruit in colder climates?
Not necessarily. Stella only needs 400 chill hours. Planting in very cold zones (4 or colder) risks winter damage without improving fruit production. The ideal zones are 5-9 where the tree gets enough chill without excessive cold stress.
If you plant it, write it down.
Variety, rootstock, planting date — and every pruning and harvest after that. Future you will thank you.
Free for up to 30 plants. No card needed.
Other Cherry (Sweet) Varieties
Chill hour data from Open-Meteo Historical Weather API. Variety information compiled from university extension services.