Lapins cherry trees
Prunus avium Lapins is a large dark red juicy cherry with a mild sweet/sharp flavour, and will appeal to those who like cherries but prefer a milder flavour.
It is one of the best cherry varieties for the UK garden, heavy cropping, quite vigorous, and easy to grow.
Lapins is self-fertile and can be considered an improved Stella (which is one of its parents). It is well-regarded by commercial growers because it crops reliably and the fruit is large and of good quality.
Lapins cherry trees for sale
Pot-grown
All our pot-grown trees are grown for us to our specification by the Frank P Matthews nursery.
All pot-grown trees are suitable for planting out in the garden, some are suitable for growing in containers.
PG12-year bush-trained 11.5L pot-grown tree Gisela 5 rootstock£63.50
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
PG22-year bush-trained 12L pot-grown tree Colt rootstock£57.75
Grown for us by Frank P Matthews nursery
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Bare-root
BR11-year bare-root treeGisela 5 rootstock£45.50
Medium tree
(2m-3m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
BR21-year bare-root treeColt rootstock£40.50
Large tree
(3m-5m after 10 years)
Out of stock
Please try next season
Need help? Ask our fruit tree experts
Call us on 01759 392007 or fill in our contact form.
Tree specification
Photos of trees as supplied |
Tree sizes and forms
Pre-ordering
Pre-order now for delivery in September 2025
Delivery charges
Delivery for a single tree starts at £9.95, it is calculated based on your postcode.
Growing and Training
Lapins is one of the modern self-fertile cherries developed in Canada, and a very good pollinator for other early-flowering varieties - its flowering period is typically around 10-12 days ahead of Stella.
It is one of the heavier-cropping cherries, and comes into bearing at an early age - therefore a good choice if you want a large cherry tree on the Colt rootstock.
It grows with a characteristic habit - noticeably more upright than the spreading form of most cherries.
Lapins responds well to fruit thinning and/or measures to encourage growth and leaf production. This improves fruit quality and fruit size.
Lapins requires very little winter chilling hours and is therefore a good variety for warmer climates.
For UK growers, the main requirement is to make sure it is planted in a sheltered spot in full sun.
History
Lapins was developed by Dr. Charles Lapins of the Summerland research station in British Columbia, Canada during the 1960s and 1970s, and released in 1984. It is sometimes known as Cherokee. It was developed from Van x Stella, in the same breeding programme that also led to Sunburst (also Van x Stella).
Lapins characteristics
- Gardening skillBeginner
- Self-fertilitySelf-fertile
- Flowering group2
- Pollinating othersAverage
- Climate suitabilityTemperate climatesWarm climates
- Picking seasonMid
- CroppingHeavy
- Keeping (of fruit)1-3 days
- Food usesEating fresh
- Country of originCanada
- Period of origin1950 - 1999
- Blossom colourWhite
- Fruit colourRed
- AwardsRHS AGM (current)
British-grown trees 
Unlike many garden centres and online retailers, the vast majority of our fruit trees are grown in the UK.
Find out more.
In addition, all our trees are certified under the Plant Healthy scheme, supervised by the Plant Health Alliance.
Other stakeholders include Defra and the RHS. The scheme aims to improve UK biosecurity by setting standards
for all growers and retailers involved in selling plants in the UK.
Find out more
Guaranteed fruit trees
When you buy your fruit tree from Orange Pippin Fruit Trees we guarantee it for the first season in your garden whilst it gets established. If it doesn't grow successfully, we'll either replace it the following season or offer a refund - subject to some conditions.
Find out more.
