Description
Morello is the dark half of the sour cherry world. Where Montmorency has clear juice, Morello’s flesh and juice are both deep red, so anything you make with it comes out a real cherry colour rather than a pale pink.
The flavor is richly tart and more complex than a bright pie cherry, which is why it is the traditional choice for wine, liqueur and the darkest preserves. It is self-fertile, hardy, heavy cropping and more tolerant of part shade than a sweet cherry, and it ripens late.
Overview
- Dark red flesh and juice, for deeply coloured preserves.
- Richly tart and complex; the classic wine and liqueur cherry.
- Self-fertile, hardy and heavy cropping.
- Ripens late, after the sweet cherries.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Prunus cerasus ‘Morello’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; deep, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 4
Rootstock: Mazzard F 12-1
Bearing Age: 2 to 3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 12 to 15 ft tall and wide, easily maintained smaller with pruning
Ripening Time: Late season; July into August
Pollination: Self-fertile; one tree sets a full crop
Pests & Diseases: Bacterial canker, brown rot and cherry fruit fly; summer pruning and airflow handle most of it
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: If your pies come out pale, the problem is the variety and not the recipe. Morello colours everything it goes into.
- Regional Insight: Cherries want a real winter and a dry spell at ripening; where June rain is common, airflow and a crack-resistant variety matter most.
- Explore more cherry trees in our collection: Cherry Trees
