Emperor Francis Cherry Scionwood

Emperor Francis Cherry (Prunus avium 'Emperor Francis') Scionwood

Grower's Notes (Our Experience):

Emperor Francis Sweet Cherry is a mid-season variety that we grow, characterized by its bright red to blush exterior and a white interior. It will ripen to a full bright red if you let it remain on the tree long enough. It offers a lighter taste and less dense flavor compared to other varieties like Bing, Stella, and Black Gold. The ripening timeline can vary, typically maturing from the same time as Bing to up to a week later. It is a highly productive tree, but it is not self-fruitful, meaning it requires a compatible, concurrently blooming cherry variety nearby for cross-pollination.

Botanical Specs & Profile:

Emperor Francis Sweet Cherry is a mid-season cultivar introduced to the United States in the early 1900s. The tree reaches a mature height of 12 to 15 feet with a spread of 10 to 12 feet, suitable for USDA hardiness zones 5 through 7. It produces medium to large, heart-shaped fruit featuring yellow skin blushed with bright red and white interior flesh. The cherries are firm, crack-resistant, and utilized for fresh eating, preserves, and maraschino processing. This variety is self-sterile and requires cross-pollination from compatible sweet cherry varieties such as Stella or Black Tartarian. It performs best in full sun and well-drained soil.

This product is a dormant cutting that will generally be used for grafting onto an existing tree of the same type or onto compatible rootstock. Unfortunately we cannot guarantee grafting success. If you are new to grafting, follow the link on each product page for 'Videos on Grafting...'.