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Sweet Cherry variety

Stella

The short answer

Stella requires 400–500 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 5–9[2]. It is self-fertile[3].

Growing facts

Stella growing facts
Chill requirement400–500 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 5–9[2]
PollinationSelf-fertile, bloom group 3[3]
Harvest windowJune–July[2]
Years to bearing5–7 years (typical for sweet cherries)[4]
AppearanceLarge, heart-shaped; dark red to nearly black skin[2]
Stella sweet cherrySpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Notes

  • Self-fruitful and a good pollenizer for all sweet cherries; can serve as a universal pollenizer, though it has not worked as a pollenizer for Bing in some areas.[3]
  • Self-fertile dark-red cherry from Canada; ripens about 4 days after Bing.[1]
  • Rated resistant to cracking.[5]

A year with your Stella

When the work happens for a sweet cherry in USDA zone 7, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Sweet Cherry in zone 7
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest—————————
Care——————————

See the full month-by-month sweet cherry calendar for zone 7 →

Can I grow Stella where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Stella? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Stella need?
Stella needs 400–500 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Stella?
Stella grows in USDA zones 5–9.
Is Stella self-pollinating?
Stella is self-fertile, though a pollination partner can improve cropping.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] Utah State University Extension (Intermountain Tree Fruit Production Guide). Varieties for Utah — Cherry — accessed July 2026
  3. [3] Washington State University Tree Fruit. Pollination – Sweet Cherry (WSU Tree Fruit) — accessed July 2026
  4. [4] University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine — Lack of Fruitfulness — accessed July 2026
  5. [5] Utah State University Extension (Box Elder County). Sweet Cherry Varieties for Box Elder County — accessed July 2026