I was just going to ask this question. Is there anyone else in zone 10 southern California growing a Lapins cherry? I realize Lapins was kind of a new variety of cherry, released in 1984, and not widely available until the late 80's to early 90's, which has now become superseded by Royal Lee/Royal Minnie, so there may not be that many with experience growing a Lapins in SoCal. But Lapins is kind of unique stand-alone variety in that it does not require another pollinator (it was a cross between Vans and Stella). I'm growing a Lapins in Laguna Niguel on a hillside. There are some big oak trees growing close to it (on the south facing side) so it does get some partial shade during the morning and evening during the Winter season. During the summer, only the base of the tree is shaded (only partially), while the top gets full sun exposure. I think having half the surrounding ground shaded helps keep some moisture in the soil, as well as the surrounding air, which ultimately is helpful to the tree in this climate, since if it was just planted out in the open things could get pretty dry. The tree seems to be pretty resilient, even going for a 3 month stretch with no water. One day I found the main trunk broke, the poor tree and its leaves laying against the ground. so I bent it back and staked it. Miraculously the tree has survived. It's only been in the ground 14 months. It doesn't get watered very often, but when I do I make sure it gets deeply watered. Of course the little tree hasn't fruited yet, but I've heard a report that Lapins is able to produce cherries here, albeit inconsistently, maybe every other year or so. I get the impression that Lapins was the best low chill option available before the arrival of Royal Lee/Royal Minnie. I know even a Bing or Rainier can set blossoms here, if they are in partial shade over the winter (actually my Rainier was PACKED with blossoms, though no cherries). And if Lapins sets blossoms, I think there's a good chance its going to set cherries since it's self-fertile (after being pollinated, less likely to abort fruit set due to low vigor). Interesting, fruitnut, I had heard just the opposite, that self-fertile cherry varieties were suspected to be more likely to set fruit from blossoms. At least that's what orchardist Matthew Søberg Shugart of UC Davis said in his blog.

I also have Stella, buts its in a whiskey barrel. I would say next year you could have a few fruits. Mine were planted in 2008 and last summer i had a lot of flowers, but they got hit very hard by plum curculio, so I lost a lot of fruit. I didn't see any cracking last year and we had a LOT of rain. I think my sand soil helps. Here is my Lapins in May of 2009 This was my Kristin in May of 2009 and it was planted in 2008... This was Stella last April and I bought the tree in 2009 I have Lapins, Black Gold, Stella and Kristin. My trees came from Raintree.

Hi All: I live in zone 6, where Lapins seems to do quite well so far. Mine are entering their 2nd year at my home. I bought 12 of them and all but 1 are thriving. I did not buy them as eating cherries, but for attracting birds so small yields are not much of a concern for me. In fact many of them are in my front yard, so the fewer the cherries the better for my lawn. Anyway, I have a question for anyone out there. The story on the one tree that did not make it is that the main trunk of the tree appears to be either dead or dormant (I think because I pruned it too hard at perhaps the wrong time of year last year). Now there are many shoots coming out of the bottom of the tree. My question is: is this tree salavageable? Or should I dig it up and plant a new one? Thanks! Chris

Most years in Portland, when fruiting cherry trees are in full bloom, those are the coldest and wettest days for those weeks. Did you have lots of flowers and bees at the same time? Did a lot of tiny immature cherries and stems rain down from the tree post-bloom? Now that sweet cherries are ripening here, we just had the two coldest, wettest days for those weeks, likely to crack some cherries. We have a scattering of Surefire (pie) cherries on our tree, I'm seeing the same on other neighborhood (sweet and pie) cherry trees of various ages. So you have a combination of a young tree and an off year.