Cherry (Prunus) Celeste® Gisela 5®

Bred in Canada from the celebrated 'Van' and 'New Star', Celeste is one of the finest early-season sweet cherries for home growers. In spring the branches are smothered in white blossom that bees love, followed in early to mid-July by generous clusters of large, glossy, dark red cherries with sweet, juicy flesh, best enjoyed straight from the tree.

Celeste is naturally compact, and grafting onto the dwarfing Gisela 5 rootstock keeps it to around 2–3m. That makes it ideal for smaller gardens, fruit cages or a large patio container, and it's also easy to net against birds and pick from without a ladder. Gisela 5 trees also begin cropping young, often within a couple of years of planting. Best of all, Celeste is self-fertile, so a single tree will produce fruit without a pollination partner.

Plant in full sun in a sheltered spot, in moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil. If growing in a pot, use a loam-based compost such as John Innes No. 3 in a container of at least 50cm, and water regularly in dry spells, as uneven watering can lead to smaller fruit or split skins. Prune in summer after harvest, not in winter, to reduce the risk of silver leaf and bacterial canker. Fully hardy (RHS H6). As with all cherries, the fruit is delicious but the stones and leaves shouldn't be eaten, so keep those out of reach of children and pets.

Each tree is hand-selected before dispatch.

Available from Pengelly Garden Centre.