Lapins Sweet Cherry
Pollination & Compatibility Guide
Lapins cherry pollination guide: self-fertile S1S4′ universal donor mechanics, bloom overlap, heavy-set management, and orchard design.
Lapins is Self-Fertile (Universal Pollen Donor)
Self-fertile (S1S4′) and a universal pollen donor — its pollen is accepted by every other sweet cherry regardless of shared alleles, which makes it the most useful single pollinizer to place in a mixed block. Note the asymmetry with Van: Lapins pollen on Van is fully compatible, but Van pollen on Lapins is only half-functional (both carry S1), so Van is a poor choice if you are planting Lapins and expecting a partner-boosted set — Sweetheart and Skeena are cleaner. Partners: Sweetheart, Skeena.
- S-Genotype / Genetics
- S1S4' (Group SC)
- Required Companions
- 0 (Self-Fertile)
- Bloom Group
- Group 4 (Late-Spring)
- Harvest Timing
- Late Season
Flowering Period & Overlap Window
Sweet and sour cherry flowering periods are classified into numbered bloom groups (1 through 5). Cross-pollination requires overlapping bloom timing between genetically compatible cultivars.
Any compatible cherry cultivar flowering within Group 3 to 5 provides matching blossom overlap.
Compatible Pollination Partners (17)
| Cultivar | Bloom Group | Overlap Type | Harvest | Primary Uses | Interactive Test |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attika | Group 4 | Full Overlap | Late | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
| Group 4 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
SkeenaGuideUniversal Donor | Group 4 | Full Overlap | Late | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
SweetheartGuideUniversal Donor | Group 4 | Full Overlap | Late | Fresh Eating, Canning | Test Cross |
TehraniveeGuideUniversal Donor | Group 4 | Full Overlap | Late | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
| Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid-Late | Fresh Eating, Canning | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Canning, Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Adjacent Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating, Dessert | Test Cross | |
| Group 5 | Adjacent Overlap | Late | Fresh Eating, Storage | Test Cross | |
| Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross | |
SelahGuideUniversal Donor | Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
StellaGuideUniversal Donor | Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating, All-Purpose | Test Cross |
SunburstGuideUniversal Donor | Group 3 | Full Overlap | Mid | Fresh Eating | Test Cross |
Incompatible Varieties & Exclusions (2)
These cherry varieties overlap in flowering time with Lapins but cannot fertilise it due to shared S-allele genetic incompatibility groups.
Utah Giant's S-genotype is not recorded. For this crop compatibility is computed from S-alleles, so it cannot be offered as a partner without one.
Vindskörsbär (Victor)'s S-genotype is not recorded. For this crop compatibility is computed from S-alleles, so it cannot be offered as a partner without one.
Lapins Sweet Cherry: Self-Fertility & Universal Pollinizer
Lapins is arguably the most widely planted self-fertile sweet cherry in the world. Bred by Dr. Karlis Lapins at the Summerland Research Station in British Columbia (Van × Stella), Lapins combines dark, glossy mahogany fruit, excellent firmness, rich sweet flavor, and consistent cropping under diverse temperate commercial climate conditions.
Possessing the S1S4′ genotype (Group SC), Lapins is self-fertile and a universal pollen donor. Its pollen is accepted by every sweet cherry cultivar regardless of incompatibility group. This makes Lapins the single most versatile pollinizer to integrate into mixed commercial orchard layouts and high-density planting systems across fruit belts.
Blossoming in mid-spring (Bloom Group 3), Lapins sets heavy crops in solid single-cultivar blocks. Note the genetic asymmetry with Van: Lapins pollen on Van is 100% compatible, but Van pollen on Lapins is only semi-compatible due to shared S1 alleles, making Skeena or Sweetheart cleaner reciprocal partners.
With its vigorous growth habit and precocious spur development on semi-dwarfing rootstocks, Lapins delivers consistent high yields year after year.
Key Orchard Considerations for Lapins
Lapins sets fruit aggressively in tight clusters. Perform annual renewal pruning on two-year wood to thin spurs and prevent small fruit size and branch breakage.
Fruit exhibits good resistance to rain splitting. Ripening about 10–14 days after Bing, it extends the harvest window with dependable export-quality fruit.
Position Lapins every 4th to 6th tree in pollinizer rows to provide comprehensive pollen coverage for self-incompatible varieties like Rainier or Bing.
Take Lapins from Planning to Planting
Use Kropigo's free browser tools to model your block density, tree counts, and pollinizer rows, then maintain permanent orchard records row by row.
Pollination Checker
Check Lapins against supported cultivars with compatible flowering and pollination data.
Commercial Block Planner
Calculate high-density tree spacing, row geometry, and establishment costs.
Block Record Keeping
Track pruning, chemical thinning, and harvest tallies block by block from the orchard.