Are there different kinds of U of S cherries?
Yes. The “Evans” cherry was a variety developed in the 1950’s is commonly grown on the Canadian Prairies. Although it is a good hardy plant that produces a lighter coloured (yellowish flesh) fruit. The “Evans” cherry is a tree. It is similar to sour or tart cherries varieties grown elsewhere in the world but is hardy to the prairies. The University of Saskatchewan developed a dwarf shrub cherry plant and the first to be released was the “Carmine Jewel” in the 1990’s. Two researchers at the U of S have been instrumental in maintaining the breeding program for cherries; Dr. Bob Bors and Rick Sawatsky. Through extensive work the U of S released the romance series of cherries in the spring of 2006. These include Romeo, Juliette, Valentine, Crimson Passion, and (of course) Cupid. The fruit from these plants is generally very similar but each cultivar has some distinctive traits. If funding can be found research will continue to identify such things as “are particular cultivars better suited
