Cherry, North Star

Prunus 'North Star', developed by the renowned University of Minnesota breeding program, is a remarkable dwarf sour cherry perfectly suited for Zone 4-8 landscapes. This compact tree matures to just 8-10 feet in both height and width, making it an ideal specimen for modern properties with limited space. Despite its modest dimensions, North Star delivers exceptional fruit production, often yielding 20-30 pounds of cherries per tree at maturity. Its naturally restrained growth habit eliminates the need for extensive pruning while allowing easy harvest from ground level. In spring, the tree transforms into a spectacular ornamental display with clusters of fragrant white blossoms covering the branches before leaf emergence. As the growing season progresses, the tree develops distinctive dark green foliage that provides attractive summer texture. Winter landscapes benefit from North Star's rich, reddish-brown bark with prominent horizontal lenticels that create year-round visual interest. The deep red fruits ripen in mid-summer, measuring approximately 3/4 inch in diameter with rich, dark red flesh and juice. Their well-balanced sweet-tart flavor makes them exceptionally versatile - enjoyable when eaten fresh (unlike many sour cherries), perfect for traditional pies and preserves, outstanding in jams and jellies, and exceptional for wines and liqueurs. North Star is completely self-fertile, requiring no companion tree for pollination, and demonstrates excellent disease resistance, particularly to leaf spot and brown rot. The tree shows remarkable urban tolerance, adapting well to varied soil conditions and withstanding pollution and environmental stresses typical in developed areas. Its combination of compact size, ornamental appeal, abundant production, and resilience makes North Star an outstanding choice for small orchards, edible landscapes, and modern urban gardens throughout North Dakota.