Starking® Hardy Giant™ Antique Sweet Cherry Tree

Starking® Hardy Giant™ is a Stark Bro’s exclusive antique sweet cherry with a story that spans nearly a century — discovered in Cedarburg, Wisconsin in 1926 and introduced by Stark Bro’s in 1949 after recognizing its exceptional qualities. Large, abundant clusters of firm, sweet cherries with mahogany skin and dark red flesh ripen in June in a generous harvest that performs beautifully for both fresh eating and canning. The partially freestone pit separates readily from the flesh, making every use easy and enjoyable. Clouds of pink and white spring blossoms announce the season with genuine beauty before the first cherry appears. A pollinator is required. Zones 5–9.

Large Clusters of Mahogany-Skinned Sweet Cherries

The cluster habit is Starking® Hardy Giant™'s most immediately productive quality — multiple large cherries developing together on each stem, filling the tree with abundant fruit in the generous June harvest that has made it a trusted choice since its 1949 introduction. The mahogany skin and dark red flesh are visually rich and distinctive, and the sweet, firm texture delivers the classic sweet cherry experience that makes June harvests so anticipated by home orchardists.

Partially Freestone — Easy for Canning and Fresh Eating

The partially freestone pit separates readily from the dark red flesh — a practical advantage for canning where clean separation matters, and an enjoyable quality for fresh eating where nothing should get in the way of the fruit. Starking® Hardy Giant™ cans beautifully, preserving its rich color and sweet flavor in jars that reflect the quality of the harvest.

Cedarburg, Wisconsin, 1926 — Introduced by Stark Bro’s 1949

The origin story follows a classic Stark Bro’s pattern — a naturally superior selection recognized for its large clusters, fruit quality, and reliable production, then brought to market after evaluation. Discovered in Cedarburg, Wisconsin in 1926 and introduced by Stark Bro’s in 1949, it has nearly 75 years of proven home orchard performance across Zones 5–9.

Why Growers Choose Starking® Hardy Giant™

• A Stark Bro’s exclusive — only available from Stark Bro’s
• Large clusters of firm, sweet mahogany-skinned cherries — generous June harvests
• Partially freestone — clean separation for easy canning and fresh eating
• Cedarburg, Wisconsin 1926, introduced by Stark Bro’s 1949 — 75 years of proven performance
• Clouds of pink and white spring blossoms — beautiful landscape presence before harvest
• Suitable for canning and outstanding for fresh eating — fully versatile