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Prunus avium 'VICTORIA' bigarreau cherry - columnar - self-fertile
Prunus
The wild cherry (Prunus avium) is a native tree of Europe and western Asia, ranging from the Atlantic regions to the Caucasus, where it grows in deciduous forests on deep, well-drained soils. It belongs to the rose family (Rosaceae) and was formally described as a distinct species in the 18th century. Its origin can be traced back to refuges of the temperate zone after the last Ice Age, from where it gradually spread both naturally and with the help of humans and birds. Archaeobotanical finds even suggest that our prehistoric ancestors – including Neanderthals – may have enjoyed its small, wild fruits. Within the species there is great variability in fruit size and ripening, which became the foundation for traditional European breeding of sweet cherries.
Historically, cherries were valued since antiquity – eaten fresh, dried, preserved, or pressed into juices and wines; later, compotes and jams became common. The first systematic collections and descriptions of cultivars appeared in the 17th–19th centuries in Western Europe, especially in France and Germany, where the cherry became an iconic orchard and avenue tree. In culture, it is often linked with spring and fertility, while the European names usually derive from the Latin cerasus, although Prunus avium is the sweet cherry (in contrast to the sour cherry, Prunus cerasus). Breeding and selection focused on fruit size and firmness, balanced sweetness, regular yiled, and more recently also on resistance to spreading diseases, resulting in a wide palette of old and modern cultivars.
Victoria is an exceptional sweet cherry of the bigarreau type with a naturally narrower growth, which is why it is often classified among so‑called columnar fruit trees. It produces large, round fruits with dark red to reddish‑brown skin. The flesh is firm, juicy, and sweet, with a pleasant aroma suitable for fresh consumption as well as for preserving. Ripening falls in the mid‑season, usually in early July under Central European conditions, with a balanced harvest and good resistance of the fruit to cracking in normal summer weather. A notable advantage is its self‑fertility – the cultivar bears reliably even as a solitary tree, without the need for pollinators with overlapping flowering time.
The tree grows naturally upright and narrow, with fruits borne in short clusters along the main axis, giving it its characteristic columnar habit; this makes it ideal for smaller gardens, narrow spaces, and also suitable for cultivation in larger containers (with a volume of 40 litres or more). Pruning is not necessary and, as with cherries (and stone fruits in general), is not recommended because large wounds heal poorly and even smaller cuts may become entry points for fungal diseases such as blossom wilt (Monilinia). The exception is formative or maintenance pruning, aimed at keeping a compact, columnar shape and ensuring accessibility for harvest – this is carried out in summer after picking, when wounds heal more readily; lateral shoots are shortened to 20–40 cm, while the main leader is left to grow upwards. As for rootstocks, compact types such as Gisela 5 are most often chosen for early bearing and stable columnar growth, while Colt can be used for a somewhat more robust, yet still reasonably compact tree in garden conditions.
Cherries require full sun, deep, fertile, and well-drained soils with a slightly acidic to neutral reaction, regular watering during dry periods, and balanced fertilisation without excess nitrogen. After planting, a strong support is essential – a single pole is sufficient for young trees and half-standards, while standards require a tripod support for at least three years. During this period, keep the soil around the roots free of grass and weeds; even later, a clean soil surface is recommended. Cherries generally develop a strong, often shallow-spreading root system that provides stability and efficient water uptake, but may disturb paving, paths, or low walls if planted too close to built structures. The cultivar is hardy to at least –29 °C, making it suitable even for colder regions of Central Europe.
Last update 22-10-2025
