Prunus avium Bigarreau Blanc - Cherry Tree

The Bigarreau Blanc Organic Cherry Tree, also known as Trompe Geai, is characterised by its delicious fruits that can be picked from the tree from mid-June onwards. It produces medium-sized cherries, measuring 2 to 2.5cm (1in) in diameter, heart-shaped (cordate) with a very thin, almost transparent, shiny skin, of a very light yellow colour that can turn slightly red when exposed to sunlight. The creamy white flesh is firm, melting, with colourless juice, very sweet, slightly acidic, and delicately flavoured. The cherries should be picked as they ripen, along with their stalks to improve their storage. The spectacular flowering occurs in April, covering the tree with an elegant and delicate mantle of white flowers. Highly ornamental with its upright and spreading habit, it can provide shade in summer. Being a productive variety and resistant to cold, it can be grown in all types of soil, except for excessively clayey ones, and is not very susceptible to diseases. It is a fruit tree that is easy to establish and requires almost no maintenance. Preferably planted in autumn.

Plant derived from organic agriculture.

Prunus avium belongs to the Rosaceae family, like the Wild Cherry Tree (Prunus cerasus). Also known as the Sweet Cherry or Bird Cherry, it is native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa, and has been present in Europe since the Neolithic age (Polished Stone Age).

The Bigarreau Blanc, also known as the Trompe Geai, is an old variety that is believed to originate from the Landes region in Aquitaine, France. This sweet cherry forms a vigorous tree with an upright silhouette that spreads with age, moderately branching, and can reach approximately 5 to 6 metres (16 to 20 feet) in height and 3 to 5 metres (10 to 16 feet) in width when fully grown. The reddish-brown wood is characteristic of cherry trees. Its habit is well suited for free forms on tall or half-standard stems, as well as low goblet shapes. The deciduous foliage consists of large, alternately arranged, obovate leaves, irregularly toothed, shiny green, turning brownish-orange in autumn. The relatively late flowering occurs in the second half of April, before the leaves appear, which generally protects it from late spring frosts. The pure white flowers, measuring 2 to 3cm (1in) in diameter, are single and grouped in clusters. They can be damaged by frost at temperatures below -2 to -3°C, so it is recommended to plant cherry trees in sheltered, west-facing locations protected from cold winds in regions prone to late frosts. On the plus side, the very abundant flowering often results in satisfying fruiting. It is remarkably decorative spring flowering and particularly attractive to bees and rich in nectar. A hardy tree that can withstand temperatures as low as -20°C, it is suitable for cultivation in all regions, including mountainous areas. This cherry tree is self-sterile or self-incompatible, meaning the flowers cannot self-pollinate. Therefore the presence of other cherry tree varieties that flower at the same time is necessary. For example, the varieties Burlat, Early Rivers, Hedelfingen, Stark Gold, Summit, and Van are suitable for cross-pollination and increasing fruit set.

Prunus avium offers a harvest that can be more or less abundant depending on the year and may exhibit an alternation (biennial bearing) phenomenon, allowing the tree to replenish its reserves. With a relatively quick time to fruiting, around 3 to 4 years, fruit production becomes optimal after 6 to 7 years. An adult cherry tree (between 10 and 20 years old) produces an average of 25 to 50 kilograms of fruit per year. The fruit is attached to the branch by a relatively short petiole measuring 3 to 4cm (1 to 2in) in length. Harvesting begins around mid-June and continues until the end of June. It is important to only pick the fruits when they are fully ripe, as they do not ripen any further, and with their stalks to ensure good storage. Since cherries are quite delicate, they should be harvested using a picking pole or by hand using a ladder, always with care. Very juicy and sweet, these cherries are delicious when eaten raw. In cooking, they reveal all their flavours in the making of clafoutis, cakes, crumbles, or pies, fruit salads, and as an accompaniment to savoury dishes with white meats (turkey, chicken, veal, duck, etc.). They are also perfect for making jams, preserving in syrup, or canning.

The cherry's high content of vitamins A, C, and E, phenolic antioxidants, calcium, and copper, with a significant contribution of iron, plus its richness in trace elements and fibre, make it a health asset. The fruits can only be stored for a few days in a cool place or in the refrigerator. They can also be frozen after being washed, dried, stemmed, and pitted.

Very popular, the cherry tree finds its rightful place in the garden planted on a lawn, in an orchard, or as part of a fruiting hedge. Bringing pleasure to young and old, from among a wide range of cherry trees it is easy to find the variety that best suits your tastes.