Francis (Franz Joseph) cherry is a medium-late maturing variety, with harvest occurring in the third decade of June. The tree is medium-sized, reaching about 4 meters in height, with an oval, moderately dense crown. It enters fruiting on the fourth year, with high yield, reaching maximum productivity by the 7th–8th year. The variety is adapted for cultivation in almost all regions of Ukraine and is suitable for commercial production.
The fruits are large, round, with a distinctly marked groove, bright yellow in color with a blush that may cover most or all of the fruit surface. Average fruit weight is about 8–9 grams. The flesh is juicy, firm, meaty, and yellow, with a delicate sweet flavor, making the cherry an excellent dessert. The fruits are suitable for fresh consumption, as well as for canning and drying, though not recommended for freezing. The fruits have high transportability.
The variety exhibits high resistance to major diseases and pests, good drought tolerance, and high cold hardiness, although it poorly withstands severe frosts and requires longer recovery after winter compared to other varieties. Flowering occurs at the beginning of May. It is important to note that this variety is self-sterile, so the presence of other varieties is necessary for successful pollination.
