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All about apples, pears, plums, and cherries - and orchards where they are grown

Bigarreau Napoleon cherry

Bigarreau Napoleon

The traditional Napoleon cherry remains deservedly popular to this day.

This variety also played a key role in the development of Stella, the first self-fertile cherry.  As a result many modern cherries can trace their ancestry back to the Napoleon cherry.

Bigarreau Napoleon cherry identification images

All images copyright Orange Pippin unless otherwise stated.

  • Napoleon Bigarreau
  • Napoleon Bigarreau

USDA identification images for Bigarreau Napoleon

The identification paintings in the USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection span the years 1886 to 1942.

    Citation: U.S. Department of Agriculture Pomological Watercolor Collection. Rare and Special Collections, National Agricultural Library, Beltsville, MD 20705.

    Offspring of this variety


    Visitor reviews


    Tree register

    United Kingdom

    France

    Spring blossom records for this variety

    2022 season

    • 30th March  2022  - tree owned by Richard in Objat, France

    Record your blossom dates in our Fruit Tree Register - more >>.


    Origins

    • Species: Prunus avium - Sweet cherry
    • Originates from: United States

    Identification

    • Country of origin: Germany
    • Period of origin: 1750 - 1799
    • Fruit colour: Yellow / Red
    • Flower colour: White
    • Leaf colour: Green
    • Popularity: Best sellers
    • Annual cycle: Deciduous

    Using

    • Picking season: Early
    • Keeping (of fruit): 1-3 days
    • Flavour quality: Very good
    • Flavour style (apples): Sweet/Sharp
    • Cropping: Good
    • Fruit persistence: Ripens over a period
    • Food uses: Eating fresh
    • Picking period: late July
    • Wildlife: RHS Plants for Pollinators

    Growing

    • Gardening skill: Average
    • Flowering group: 5
    • Pollinating others: Average
    • Ploidy: Diploid
    • Bearing regularity: Regular
    • Self-fertility: Not self-fertile

    Climate

    • Climate suitability: Temperate climates
    • Climate suitability: Warm climates
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Cool ( 20-24C / 68-75F)
    • Summer average maximum temperatures: Warm (25-30C / 76-85F)

    Other qualities

    • Canker: Very susceptible
    • Fruit splitting: Very susceptible

    Where to buy trees

    The following tree nurseries offer Bigarreau Napoleon cherry trees for sale:


    Where to buy fresh fruit

    No orchards have registered as growing this variety. If you grow this and want to register please go to our Orchard Registration form.



    References

    • Fruit Expert
      Author: Hessayon
      As Napoleon Bigarreau

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