Cultivar 311: Crimson Passion

Crimson Passion is a University of Saskatchewan dwarf sour cherry in the Romance Series context. Manitoba guidance lists it among the recommended varieties for northern Manitoba. [S3] The surviving evidence here does not give its parentage or a full release history, but it does place the cultivar within the prairie-bred sour cherry program that produced these cold climate selections. [S3]

The clearest remarks on fruit quality come from University of Saskatchewan cherry evaluation notes. In those notes, Crimson Passion is repeatedly treated as one of the sweetest comparators in the group, and Bob Bors says he prefers it most because its firmness is like a sweet cherry. [S2] This suggests a cherry selected not only for processing, but also for appealing texture and fresh eating quality within the dwarf sour cherry group. [S2]

Hardiness is the best documented trait in this packet, though the evidence is comparative rather than complete. A University of Saskatchewan note reports about 15 percent dieback per tree for Crimson Passion in the winter of 2008 to 2009. Another note says Carmine Jewel was hardier than Crimson Passion at that location. [S2] [S1] Manitoba still lists Crimson Passion as a recommended variety for northern Manitoba. That supports its relevance in prairie and near north testing, even though the same guide says dwarf sour cherries had not yet been widely tried there at the time. [S3]

Broader dwarf sour cherry guidance gives likely growing context for Crimson Passion as part of that group. Plants flower in May or June. Fruit ripens in mid August or early September. Cherries should be harvested when bright to dark red and slightly soft. [S3] The fruit keeps only a couple of days in the refrigerator, so immediate eating, freezing, canning, or other prompt processing is advised. [S3] Growers are told that one plant is enough because no cross pollination is required, though bees are still needed for pollination, and fruiting may begin after four to five years. [S3]

Crimson Passion stands out here less for a complete documented biography than for its reputation within the Saskatchewan cherry group: sweeter than many comparators, firmer than expected for a sour cherry, and hardy enough to remain in prairie recommendation lists despite taking more winter injury than Carmine Jewel in side by side observation. [S2] [S1] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: Carmine Jewel Notes: Based on observations from 2004 to 2009
• S2: Juliet Notes: Based on observations in 2008 & 2009
• S3: Fruit Crops for Northern Manitoba

This summary currently draws chiefly from Fruit Crops for Northern Manitoba, with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“No cultivar-specific production, flavor, or parentage details are provided for this page.”
— ^[4]

“Listed as a recommended variety of Dwarf Sour Cherry.”
— ^[4]

“Listed among recommended Dwarf Sour Cherry varieties.”
— ^[4]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• No direct breeding_cross claim text yet.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• Crimson Passion (formerly 7-21-16.3) Crimson Passion is the smallest bush with the firmest fruit mistaken by some to be a sweet cherry.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3
• Crimson Passion (formerly 7-21-16.3) Crimson Passion is the smallest bush with the firmest fruit mistaken by some to be a sweet cherry.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3
• Crimson Passion (formerly 7-21-16.3) Crimson Passion is the smallest bush with the firmest fruit mistaken by some to be a sweet cherry.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3
• Crimson Passion (formerly 7-21-16.3) Crimson Passion is the smallest bush with the firmest fruit mistaken by some to be a sweet cherry.Recommended fruit Varieties, p3

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context