Prunus avium 'Nabella' (F)

RHS Plant Profile
cherry (sweet) 'Nabella'
cherry (sweet) 'Nabella' RHS
Plants for pollinators
Fruit Edible Trees

A late cropping, acid cherry producing good yields of dark red to black fruit, ideal for cooking and jam-making, in late summer

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or North–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H5

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Name Status
Unresolved
Horticultural Group
This genus produces fruit, but not necessarily edible fruit

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Cherries are best suited to fan-training so they can be netted against bird damage and protected from frosts though they can also be grown as small, open trees. See acid cherry cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by chip budding or grafting on clonal rootstock for fruit. Named cultivars will not come true from seed

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Wildlife gardens
  • Wall side borders
  • Edible fruit

Pruning

Train fan-trained trees in spring. Prune established fans and carry out routine pruning on established cherry trees when harvesting the fruits in summer. See pruning acid cherries

Pests

Protect trees from birds that can damage buds and eat fruit. May suffer from cherry blackfly and other aphids, leaf-mining moths, pear and cherry slugworm, winter moth and other caterpillars. Spotted wing drosophila, a fruit fly, is likely to become an increasing problem

Diseases

May be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus