'Lapins' is a highly productive, self-fertile sweet cherry developed at the Summerland Research Station in B.C. from a cross between 'Van' and 'Stella'. It produces large, firm, dark mahogany-red cherries with juicy red flesh and a rich, sweet flavour, excellent for fresh eating as well as baking, preserves and freezing. Fruit ripens late in the cherry season, approximately two weeks after 'Bing'. Trees are vigorous and heavy yielding and perform best in full sun with fertile, well-drained soil and good air circulation. 'Lapins' is particularly well suited to cool maritime climates and has good resistance to rain-induced fruit cracking, an important advantage in wetter growing regions. ‘Lapins’ is self-fertile, so only one tree is required for fruit production, and it can also provide pollen for many other sweet cherry varieties with overlapping flowering periods. Its combination of large, high-quality fruit, reliable productivity, self-fertility and B.C. origins has made it one of the most widely grown modern sweet cherries. Common names: Lapins Cherry, Lapins Sweet Cherry, Edible: FruitHarvest timing: Late season (July) Scientific name: Prunus avium ‘Lapins’Light requirements: Full sun Full-grown size: 15-20' tall x 10-15' wideHardiness: Zone 5Pollination: Self-fertile, but also makes a good pollinator for other sweet cherries.Wildlife: Blossoms feed spring pollinators. Birds are attracted to fruit.Origin: Originated at Agriculture Canada's research station in Summerland, B.C., from a 1965 cross of ‘Van’ × ‘Stella’.Noteworthy: Highly productive sweet cherry that's excellent for fresh eating, baking, freezing and preserves. Well suited to cooler, wetter climates.
