Lapins (also marketed as Cherokee) is a

cultivar A cultivar is a type of cultivated plant that people have selected for desired traits and when propagated retain those traits. Methods used to propagate cultivars include: division, root and stem cuttings, offsets, grafting, tissue culture ...

of cherry. It is a hybrid of the Van and Stella cultivars. It has been awarded the

Royal Horticultural Society The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), founded in 1804 as the Horticultural Society of London, is the UK's leading gardening charity. The RHS promotes horticulture through its five gardens at Wisley (Surrey), Hyde Hall (Essex), Harlow Carr (Nor ...

's Award of Garden Merit.Award of Garden Merit Plants - Fruits and Vegetables
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Cultivar history

The Lapins cultivar was developed in Summerland,

British Columbia British Columbia (commonly abbreviated as BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. It has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that include rocky coastlines, sandy beaches, ...

at the Summerland Research Station. It was one of the varieties developed by the agronomist Karlis O. Lapins, a native of Latvia who did pioneering work in the development of

self-fertile Self-incompatibility (SI) is a general name for several genetic mechanisms that prevent self-fertilization in sexually reproducing organisms, and thus encourage outcrossing and allogamy. It is contrasted with separation of sexes among individuals ...

cherry cultivars. Though the cultivar was not released until 1983, years after his retirement, it was named in his honor.

Tree characteristics

The Lapins cherry tree grows to 2.5 to 4 meters tall, with a 2.5 to 4 meters spread. It has dense, green foliage and a branch structure conducive to heavy yields."Lapins and Sunburst Sweet Cherry"
Canadian Journal of Plant Science 64:211-216 (Jan. 1984) Like its parent variety Stella, the Lapins cherry is self-fertile and an excellent pollinator for other cherry varieties.

Fruit characteristics

The fruit of the Lapins cultivar is regarded as very high quality. It turns deep red well before it is ready to pick, and unlike some varieties it is sweet while still red. Lapins is a late-season cherry, ripening about 2 weeks later than the

Bing cherry Bing is a cultivar of the wild or sweet cherry (''Prunus avium'') that originated in the Pacific Northwest, in Milwaukie, Oregon, United States. The Bing remains a major cultivar in Oregon,Zebian, Maureen. (8/11/2011) "'Bing' Those Cherries On!" ...

. They are noted for having good split resistance.

References

{{Cherries Cherry cultivars Crops originating from Canada