Details for: PI 133842, Prunus ×fontanesiana (Spach) C. K. Schneid., Des Fontanes Cherry


Summary Data
Taxonomy:
Prunus ×fontanesiana (Spach) C. K. Schneid.
Top Name:
Des Fontanes Cherry
Origin:
Developed – Russian Federation
Received by NPGS:
28 Aug 1939
PI Assigned:
1939
Improvement Status:
Cultivated material
Form Received:
Plant
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Life Habit:
Tree
Availability
This accession is not available. Contact site for status.
 
Images (3 total. Click on image for more.)

FLOWER

Core Passport Data
Taxonomy:
Prunus ×fontanesiana (Spach) C. K. Schneid.
Top Name:
Des Fontanes Cherry
Origin:
Developed – Russian Federation
Received by NPGS:
28 Aug 1939
PI Assigned:
1939
Improvement Status:
Cultivated material
Form Received:
Plant
Life Cycle:
Perennial
Life Habit:
Tree
Source History
Developed

Russian Federation

Donated
28 August 1939.
Massachusetts, United States
Comment: Arnold Arboretum (Boston, Massachusetts) to Cheyenne Horticultural Research Station (Cheyenne, Wyoming)
Donor(s):
1978.
Wyoming, United States
Comment: Cheyenne Horticultural Research Station (Cheyenne, Wyoming) to Plant Environmental Research Center (Ft. Collins, Colorado)
Donor(s):
26 March 2006.
Colorado, United States
Comment: Plant Environmental Research Center (Ft. Collins, Colorado) through Fort Collins Nursery (Ft. Collins, Colorado) to North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (Ames, Iowa)
Donor(s):
22 September 2022.
Colorado, United States

Donor(s):
Accession Names and Identifiers
Des Fontanes Cherry
Type: Local name

2008-04-01
Type: Donor identifier
Accession number.
Klett, James E. Colorado State University

A36108
Type: Donor identifier
Cheyenne Horticultural Field Station

Ames 29270
Type: Site identifier
Group: AMES
NC-7 Research Numbers

Narrative
A French botanist, Rene Des Fontane, is given credit for creating this hybrid during the French Revolution. The Des Fontanes Cherry (P. x fontanesiana) is a hybrid between the Sweet Cherry, Prunus avium, and the St. Lucie Cherry, Prunus mahaleb. Officially introduced by Alfred Rehder of the Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plains, Massachusetts in 1939 (PI 133842). The Cheyenne Horticultural Research Station (CHRS) records reveal four seedlings of P. x fontanesiana were acquired prior to official USDA introduction. Specimens were planted in 1936 at the CHRS arboretum (High Plains Grassland Research Station) with all specimens persisting for approximately 40 years. The final tree thought to be the last one known to exist in the world was fortunately propagated by Dr. Bert Swanson, a former Colorado State University horticulture professor, before it was lost. One successful propagule was then planted at the Plant Environmental Research Center in Ft. Collins, Colorado in 1978 by Dr. Swanson, which is now within the Colorado State University Arboretum, curated by Dr. James Klett. Scott Skogerboe, chief propagator at Ft.Collins Nursery in the year 2000, began propagating the P. x fontanesiana and has continued to supply numerous specimens to plant enthusiasts both as rooted cuttings and grafted specimens (P. mahaleb rootstock). The Colorado State University Arboretum specimen that was planted in 1978 has developed into a mature tree measuring approximately 60 feet in height with a 45 foot spread (D. Staats pers. comm. 27 September 2022) displaying showy, white flowers in early spring (mid April) and attractive yellow-orange fall color in late fall (mid October). According to D. Statts, "this hybrid cherry is one of the few trees in the entire arboretum with minimal to no damage from snow" (D. Staats pers. comm. 27 September 2022). This ornamental cherry resembles P. avium, with slightly pubescent branches, smaller and broader leaves less than 4 inches long often rounded and subcordate at the base. Flowers are less then 1" across and fruits are small (e.g. 10-12 mm diameter), dark-red in color, and rather bitter. Potential resistance to black knot. Projected USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 3.
Prunus ×fontanesiana (Spach) C. K. Schneid.
Genus:
Prunus
Subgenus:
Cerasus
Section:
Cerasus
Family:
Rosaceae
Subfamily:
Amygdaloideae
Tribe:
Amygdaleae
Nomen number:

29897
Place of publication:

Ill. Handb. Laubholzk. 1:617. 1906
Verified:
03/28/2008 by ARS Systematic Botanists.
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Basionym
Cerasus fontanesiana Spach

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Observations

Phenotype Data

CategoryDescriptorDescriptionValueSample SizeStudyInventoryAvailability
OTHERIMAGE/PICTURE1Image present in GRIN database.FALL-COLOR - Image of plant(s) at peak fall color. WOODY-LANDSCAPE.PHOTOGRAPH.FALL-COLORPI 133842 06ncaoc1 PLNot Available
OTHERIMAGE/PICTURE1Image present in GRIN database.PLANT-CULT - Image of plant(s) under cultivation. WOODY-LANDSCAPE.PHOTOGRAPH.PLANT-CULTPI 133842 06ncaoc1 PLNot Available
OTHERIMAGE/PICTURE2Image present in GRIN database.FALL-COLOR - Image of plant(s) at peak fall color. WOODY-LANDSCAPE.PHOTOGRAPH.FALL-COLORPI 133842 06ncaoc1 PLNot Available