Sunburst Cherry (Prunus avium ‘Sunburst’)
Sunburst is an outstanding cherry for cool temperate climates due to its excellent cold tolerance, high fruit quality, and dependable cropping even when spring weather is variable. It is self-fertile and produces large, glossy, dark-red cherries with sweet, juicy flesh and a high level of natural crack resistance—an important trait in regions with frequent late spring and early summer rainfall. Developed in Canada, Sunburst inherits excellent resilience to cool, wet spring conditions similar to those in West Gippsland, making it one of the safest choices for your orchard. The tree grows vigorously and forms a well-rounded sub-canopy structure that allows good airflow and reduces the likelihood of fungal infections. It prefers deep, fertile, well-drained soil but can adapt well to biologically improved clay soils with sufficient mulch and slope drainage. The fruit is prized for fresh eating, preserving, and baking, and the edible part is the sweet flesh surrounding the pit. Sunburst is fully self-fertile but becomes even more productive when planted near Lapins or Stella. Propagation should be done through grafting onto Colt rootstock, which provides both vigour control and improved tolerance of heavier soils. Sunburst typically begins bearing fruit in three to five years. Its support species include White Clover, Chives, Lemon Balm, Calendula, Sweet Alyssum, and Sorrel, which contribute to soil conditioning, pollinator support, and balanced moisture regulation while helping manage soil-borne disease pressure common to cherries.