Griotte de Kleparow
Griotte de Kleparow is a dark-red cherry of the morello type that comes from Klepariv (Kleparów), a suburb of Lviv in modern Ukraine, dating back to the 16th century. Its exact parentage is unknown, but it is probably a sour cherry (Prunus cerasus) or a hybrid with wild cherry (Prunus avium).
The cultivar was first described botanically in 1792 by Johann Kraft. The name Griotte de Kleparow appeared in Britain by 1831 and then became the widely used international name. It was very popular in the 18th and 19th centuries and spread to many parts of Europe, the United States, and Australia. In Ukraine, cultivation declined in the 1930s and the variety probably disappeared there. Worldwide, cherry diversity has shrunk and this cultivar is no longer grown commercially in most places. There has been some interest in preserving it in France by heritage fruit groups.
In 2021, activists bought ten saplings to try to bring the cherry back to Lviv. In 2022 the saplings were planted at the University of Lviv’s botanical garden, with plans to offer certified saplings to local residents.
Characteristics:
- Tree: large, strong growth with long, drooping branches.
- Leaves: large, green with a hint of red in summer.
- Fruit: medium-sized, often in pairs, rounded to slightly heart-shaped; skin dark brownish-red and glossy; flesh juicy with a rich, sweet-sour flavor; pit small. It ripens at the end of July.
- Propagation: can be grown from seed.
Griotte is the French word for Morello cherry (a sour cherry), and this variety is distinguished from others like Montmorency by its darker flesh and juice. It has been used as a dessert fruit and for cherry juice and preserves.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 03:35 (CET).