Semi Dwarf Sweet Cherry Tree – ‘Burlat’

Fruit Type: Sweet Cherry
Botanical Name: Prunus avium ‘Burlat’ (Bigarreau Burlat)
Fruit Colour: Dark red
Growth Habit: Semi dwarf deciduous fruit tree grafted onto slow-growing rootstock
Final Height: Approx. 4–5 m
Expected Yield: Approx. 15–30 kg per season once mature
Exposure: Full sun
Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained soil
Pollination: Not self-fertile; compatible pollinators include Early Rivers, Bigarreau Van, Hedelfinger Riesenkirsche, or Sunburst
Hardiness: Hardy to approx. −25°C; blossoms may be sensitive to late spring frost

‘Burlat’, also known as Bigarreau Burlat, is one of the classic early-season sweet cherry varieties, long appreciated by gardeners and orchard growers for its dependable cropping and early harvest. First selected in France in the early twentieth century, it remains a benchmark among early cherries.

This variety produces large, dark red cherries with juicy, sweet flesh and a smooth, rich flavour. The fruit is excellent for fresh eating as well as baking and preserving. Ripening typically occurs early in the season, often from late May into June depending on seasonal warmth and local growing conditions.

This cherry grows as a semi dwarf fruit tree, remaining more manageable than traditional full-sized cherry trees while still producing generous yields. The controlled size is achieved through grafting onto a slow-growing rootstock, a technique widely used in professional orchards to regulate tree height and support consistent fruit production.

In spring the tree produces abundant white blossoms that attract bees and other pollinators, creating a beautiful ornamental display before the foliage fully develops.

‘Burlat’ is not self-fertile and requires a compatible sweet cherry variety nearby for dependable pollination and fruit set. Suitable pollinators from our assortment include Early Rivers, Bigarreau Van, Hedelfinger Riesenkirsche, and Sunburst.

Sweet cherries thrive in sunny positions with fertile, well-drained soil. A warm, sheltered location with good air circulation supports healthy growth and proper fruit development.

We select our fruit trees with winter hardiness in mind, ensuring suitability for reliable outdoor cultivation in our climate.

With proper care and placement, ‘Burlat’ becomes a productive and long-lived fruit tree, rewarding gardeners with generous harvests of some of the earliest sweet cherries of the season.

All trees are sold and delivered as 2–3 year old trees, similar to those supplied to commercial orchards, in jute bags filled with rich Dutch soil, depending on availability and variety.