Of all the unusual names for cherries, few have raised as many questions as the Black Republican.
On a recent visit to McCormick Place, we explored the biodiversity in their rooftop garden. The specialist onsite was tending and harvesting spring items. She encouraged us “Eat the cherries! There are so many!” So we did and wow! The most juicy, delicious cherry I’ve ever had. She explained the tree was 5 years old and it was the first year it bore fruit. What a delight!
But it gets better! I asked her if it was some type of heritage varietal. She told us she got the seeds from Ark of Taste and that it’s a Black Republican Cherry Tree. I was curious so looked into this.
Here are excerpts from an article by Tyler Boudreaux:
“The story of the Black Republican cherry begins with Henderson Lewelling, the eldest son of a Quaker family who ran a successful nursery in Iowa in the late 1830s". [...] Today, his house in Salem is preserved as the Lewelling Quaker Museum. It’s also a federally recognized landmark, though not for its fruit trees — the Lewelling house was once a stop on the Underground Railroad".
"Located just 20 miles from the Missouri border, Salem was a Quaker settlement where runaway slaves were welcomed.”
It is always important to celebrate the significance of such history, but this week especially. Biodiversity is both plant and human diversity; they are naturally intertwined.
Read the full article here: https://www.kcrw.com/culture/shows/special-programming/blacker-the-cherry-republican-lewelling-abolition-horticulture
Image: SL Fruit Service
30 Oct 2023
These proposals, which would affect more than a third of current cherry insurance subscribers, would mean that in the event of a serious loss they would receive no compensation at all, and if the loss reached 100 per cent, they would not be compensated for more than 20 per cent.
23 Sep 2025
The cherry tree in Switzerland is a true cultural and natural icon. From the wild varieties in Ticino to the renowned orchards of Zug, it offers delicious fruits, supports biodiversity, and plays an essential role in agriculture, gastronomy, and climate resilience.
26 Mar 2026
A study in Puglia explores how grafting affects Prunus mahaleb metabolism, revealing differences in sugars, acids, and bioactive compounds between grafted and ungrafted plants, with key implications for fruit quality, nutraceutical value, and rootstock use.
26 Mar 2026
USDA proposes new marketing rules for Washington sweet cherries: higher minimum size requirements, exceptions for Rainier and Royal Anne, updated packaging categories, and more aligned standards to support grower profitability and access to crop insurance.
