Bing Cherry

Bing Cherry

  • The classic dark sweet cherry
  • Large, heart-shaped, mahogany-red fruit
  • Firm, juicy, intensely sweet
  • Requires a pollinizer (not self-fertile)
  • Requires winter chilling (700–800 hours below 45°F)

Botanical Name: Prunus avium
Format: Grafted cherry tree

Bing Cherry is the famous dark sweet cherry with firm texture and strong fresh-market demand. This is the cherry that defines the category – large, heart-shaped, with dark mahogany-red to nearly black skin and firm, juicy, intensely sweet flesh. Bing originated in Oregon in 1875 and remains the most widely planted sweet cherry in North America. The tree is vigorous, upright, and productive, with beautiful spring blossoms. Important: Bing is not self-fertile – you must plant a compatible pollinizer (such as Black Tartarian, Van, or Lapins) within 50 feet for fruit production.

Taste note: Intensely sweet, firm, juicy – the classic sweet cherry.

Key Highlights
Feature Details
Light Full Sun
Tree Spacing 20–25 ft (standard); 12–15 ft (dwarf)
Tree Height 20–30 ft (standard); 12–15 ft (dwarf rootstock)
Planting Time Spring (bare-root) or fall (potted)
Hardiness USDA Zones 5–9
Grafting Yes
Fruit Season Late spring to early summer (June–July)
Self-fertile No – requires pollinizer

Bing cherries require full sun, well-drained soil, and winter chilling (700–800 hours below 45°F). They do not tolerate heavy, wet soil – plant on a slight mound if needed. Space trees adequately for air circulation to prevent disease. Water deeply but infrequently. Fertilize in early spring with a low-nitrogen fertilizer. Prune in late winter to maintain an open center (modified central leader). Bird protection is essential – netting is recommended as cherries ripen.

  1. Remove Packaging– Unpack bare-root or potted tree carefully.
  2. Check the Soil– Keep roots moist (do not let bare roots dry out).
  3. Adjustment Period– Plant immediately. If delayed, heel in bare-root trees.
  • Location: Full sun, well-drained, not frost-prone (blossoms are frost-sensitive).
  • Soil & Drainage: Sandy loam ideal. Avoid heavy clay.
  • Feeding: Low-nitrogen fertilizer (e.g., 5-10-10) in early spring.
  • Watering: Deep weekly watering in dry weather. Reduce in fall.
  • Pruning: Late winter. Maintain open center. Remove dead wood.
  • Frost protection: Protect blossoms from late spring frosts.

Harvest when cherries are fully dark red to nearly black and sweet. Pick with stems attached. Eat fresh, in pies, preserves, or freeze for later use.

Grafted Bing cherry trees shipped bare-root (dormant) or potted. Free shipping over $50.

📧 info@globalflora.org

Global Flora sources grafted citrus from registered, disease-tested nurseries. All plants are non-GMO.

  • Zones:5–9. Requires winter chill; not suitable for zone 10.
  • Pollination:Plant with Black Tartarian, Van, or Lapins.