Cherry Tree May Duke

Cherry Tree May Duke
Prunus x gondouinii 'May Duke'

A blood red, glossy, all purpose cherry sometimes known as a sweet and sour cherry that fruits mid-season. Whilst it always produces a heavy crop useful for cooking (and makes a clear tangy juice), if the weather is constantly warm as they ripen the fruit become lovely and sweet and can be eaten straight from the tree (without that warmth they can prove a little sharp for some palates). A very reliable and heavy cropper - with the added benefit that birds tend to leave alone. Believed to date back to the 1700's from a breeding programme in the Médoc region of France (it is named May Duke in an attempt to pronounce the French Médoc) - though often recognised as a Kentish Cherry. Partially self fertile but pollination by another cherry will maximise yield. Grown on Colt root stock for an ultimate (un-pruned) height of 8-12 feet but can easily be kept at a height of 6-8 feet. Supplied as a bare root tree pruned to approximately 4-5 feet tall (including roots).