Origin, Breeding and Licensing Status
Henriette is a modern commercial sweet cherry variety of German origin.
Breeder: Professor Hilmer Schwarzel (Germany)
Licensor: Star Fruits (France)
The variety was obtained by crossing Kordia × Regina and successfully combines:
- the excellent flavor and high resistance to fruit cracking of Regina
- the attractive fruit appearance and exceptionally long stem of Kordia
Ripening Time and Seasonal Positioning
Henriette ripens between Kordia and Regina, but later than Areko.
Approximate ripening dates under the conditions of the Cherkasy region:
- Kordia — June 22–26
- Areko — June 28 – July 1
- Henriette — June 28 – July 3
- Regina — June 29 – July 5
The variety occupies a key position in the mid-late season segment, ensuring a stable supply of premium-quality fruit.
Tree Characteristics and Growth Vigor
The tree is below medium vigor, spreading, with a natural tendency toward reduced vegetative growth.
It forms a well-lit canopy and consistently initiates generative buds.
Due to its moderate vigor, Henriette is well adapted to intensive orchard systems, provided that suitable rootstocks and training systems are used.
Recommended Rootstocks
Henriette performs best on the following rootstocks:
- Weirut-158
- MaxMa Delbard 14
- PHL series
- Piku series
- VSL-2
Suitability for Greenhouse Production
Henriette is one of the best sweet cherry varieties in the world for greenhouse cultivation, performing at the level of or even surpassing SMS-280.
The combination of late flowering, fruiting on one-year shoots, an extremely long stem, and high resistance to cracking makes Henriette a benchmark mid-late variety for protected cultivation.
Flowering, Genetics and Pollination System
Flowering is very late, significantly reducing the risk of damage from spring frosts.
Genetics (S-locus)
- S-genotype: S1 – S6
- The variety is self-sterile.
Recommended Pollinizers
- Karina — S3 – S4
- Ferrovia — S3 – S12
- Final 12.1 — S3 – S4’
- Ziraat 0900 — S3 – S12
- Kir Rosso — S3 – S4’
Incompatible Pollinizers (shared S1 or S6 alleles)
Star Dust, Kordia, Irena, Areko, Regina — not suitable as pollinizers for Henriette.
Fruit Characteristics and Market Quality
Fruits are large to very large:
- Diameter: 30–32 mm
- Weight: 13–15 g
- Shape: heart-shaped
- Color: dark red with a glossy finish
Fruit Stem — a Key Technological Advantage
The fruit stem is exceptionally long (5.0–5.5 cm), thick and strong, providing:
- fast and safe harvesting
- improved ventilation of the fruiting zone
- reduced incidence of gray mold
- extended shelf life due to greater moisture and nutrient reserves in the stem
- preservation of premium quality during transport
Fruiting — a Unique Feature
Henriette bears fruit on one-year shoots, a rare and highly valuable trait in global sweet cherry breeding.
Other varieties with this characteristic include:
- Sweet Heart
- Henriette
- Final 12.1
This trait ensures:
- high regenerative capacity of trees
- a high proportion of premium-grade fruit
Yield and Technological Advantages
In terms of overall technological performance, Henriette surpasses Kordia.
Its advantages include:
- higher resistance to spring frosts
- significantly better resistance to fruit cracking
- a higher share of premium-quality fruit
- stable and regular cropping
- very large fruit size
- ease of harvesting and longer marketing period
Intended Use
Henriette is recommended for:
- intensive and super-intensive orchards
- greenhouse production
- the late premium market segment
- a full alternative or replacement for Kordia
Key Advantages of Henriette
- Kordia × Regina cross
- fruit size 30–32 mm (13–15 g)
- exceptionally long stem 5.0–5.5 cm
- late flowering — high frost resistance
- fruiting on one-year shoots
- high technological efficiency
- one of the best varieties for greenhouse cultivation
- a full replacement for Kordia