Capulin Cherry

Plant Characteristics

Lifespan:	⌛	perennial
Origin:	✈	Mexico

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Rosaceae >

Prunus >

salicifolia >

Aromatic fruit is round with red or nearly black, smooth, thin, tender skin and pale-green juicy flesh. Fruit is eaten raw or stewed, preserved or as jam.

Growth Habits: The semideciduous tree is erect and somewhat umbrella-shaped with a short, stout trunk and rough, grayish bark. It is very fast growing and reaches a height of 10 feet in 12 to 18 months, eventually attaining a height of 30 feet or more. In mild climates the tree does not shed its leaves in winter. Capulin cherries are quite attractive, both when in bloom with dangling racemes covered with masses of flowers and after fruit set when the racemes are thick with green, light red or deep red ripening fruit.

Foliage: The alternate, aromatic leaves are about 4-1/2 inches long, slender, with serrated edges. They are deep glossy green above and pale grayish-green beneath. New leaves are often rosy.

Flowers: The flowers appear in early spring and are borne on slender racemes with one or more leaves at the base. Individual flowers are about 3/4 inch wide with white petals and a conspicuous tuft of stamens. Cross-pollination is not required.

Fruit: As many as 15 or 20 fruits sometimes develop on a raceme, but half or more fall before reaching maturity. Depending on climate and variety, they ripen from mid-May to midsummer. Resembling the northern cherry, the fruits are 1/2 to 3/4 inch in diameter and deep glossy maroon to dark purple in color, with a thin, tender skin. The pale green, firm, juicy flesh is sweet and agreeable with a touch of astringency similar to wild cherries in some cases. The pit is rather large in proportion to the size of the fruit. The trees will produce fruit 2 to 3 years after planting, and under the right conditions will set more than one crop per season. For reasons unknown trees with gray bark seem to produce larger fruit than those with darker bark.

Adaptation: Capulins are adapted to a subtropical to subtemperate climate. In its native and naturalized areas it is grows naturally at elevations between 4,000 and 9,000 ft. It is frost tolerant, withstanding 19° F with some damage to the smaller branches. In California the tree grows and fruits in many regions of the state. Capulin cherries are photo period insensitive and do not require winter chill to bear fruit. The trees are not recommended for containers.

More information about this species can be found on the genus page.

Cultivation

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Location: Capulins should be planted in full sun. Stake young trees carefully to protect from strong winds.

Soil: The trees are not exacting in their soil requirements and grow well on any reasonably fertile site. They can thrive in poor ground, even clays, but seem to prefer dry sandy soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5

Irrigation: Capulin cherries are somewhat drought tolerant, but they grow better and produce better fruit with regular watering, particularly during the period between flowering and fruiting.

Fertilizing: Capulin cherries respond well to light applications of nitrogen fertilizer when the blossoms first appear in spring. In reasonably good soils the trees may need no more than an annual mulch of compost.

Pruning: The trees need very little pruning to remain productive, although some pruning is useful to keep them at a desired height and to facilitate fruit harvest. They will take radical pruning and can be grown as a fruiting hedge.

Harvest: Like other cherries, the fruits are ready to harvest when they has developed full color and yield to gentle pressure. The skin is thin and tender but sufficiently firm for the fruit to resist bruising. The fruit will keep under refrigeration for 4 to 6 weeks in an uncovered container. The ripe fruits can be eaten out of hand or made into jams and preserves, or even made into wine.

Propagation

Capulin cherries are easily propagated by seed but the fruit quality of seedling trees is quite variable. Seedling plants are typically used as rootstock for desired cultivars using tip, wedge or cleft grafts. The plants can also be propagated from hardwood cuttings for growth on their own roots.

Pests and diseases

In California capulins are relatively free of many of the pests and diseases that afflict regular cherries and other stonefruit trees. Bacterial gummosis is an occasional problem, and some varieties are prone to die-back for unknown reasons. Pests include mites, pear slugs and scale. Deer will browse on the foliage when the plants are small. Birds are attracted to the fruit, but are less of a problem than they are with regular cherries.

Cultivars

• Ecuadorian - Very large, round fruit up to 1-1/2 inch in diameter. Light green, sweetish flesh, free of astringency when ripe. Drooping tree, outbears many other cultivars.
• Fausto - Large fruit, 2/3 to 1 inch in diameter. Flesh green, flavor rich and sweet. Ripens late, August to September in Vista. Tree upright abut drooping, a reliable annual bearer. Has good commercial potential.
• Harriet - Large, flattened globe-shaped fruit, 3/4 to 1 inch in diameter. Skin deep purple-black. Flesh green, more or less free of astringency, flavor good. Seed relatively small, Tree is a genetic dwarf, somewhat of a shy bearer.
• Huachi Grande - Large to very large, roundish fruits 1 inch or more in diameter. Very mild flavor, lacking the astringency of other capulins. Ripens early to midseason. Appears to require high temperatures to develop best flavor. Tree a very heavy producer, tends to over produce in heavy clusters.
• Lomeli - Large, roundish fruit, 1 to 1-1/8 inch in diameter. Flesh fairly astringent, flavor good. Seed small. Tree a heavy producer, often yielding more than 200 lbs. of fruit. Bears fruit in clusters. Performs very well in cool coastal locations.
• Werner - Small fruit with very good flavor. Tree a light producer, appears to bear better on certain rootstocks. Extremely vigorous, can grow 15 ft. or more in one year. Named for Andrew Werner of Santa Cruz, Calif.

Gallery

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References

• California Rare Fruit Growers

External links

• w:Capulin Cherry. Some of the material on this page may be from Wikipedia, under the Creative Commons license.
• Capulin Cherry QR Code (Size 50, 100, 200, 500)