Bing Cherry

Bing was introduced in 1875 by horticulturist Seth Lewelling at his orchard in Milwaukie, Oregon, as a seedling of Black Republican fertilized by Royal Ann (Napoleon) pollen. Lewelling, who came from a Quaker abolitionist family, named the variety after Sit Ah Bing, a Manchu-descended foreman who supervised more than thirty men in the orchard and who was present when the superior seedling was identified. The Black Republican parent was itself a leading Pacific Northwest variety of the 1860s, valued for dark color and flavor; Bing’s dramatically larger fruit size quickly displaced it commercially, and by 1905 Bing was reported to be supplanting its parent across Oregon orchards. The new variety spread through California and Washington within decades and became the dominant commercial sweet cherry in the United States, a position it has held for over a century. It remains the benchmark against which most sweet cherry flavor and size are measured, and its name is familiar to American consumers who may know no other cherry variety by name.

Bing performs best in Zones 5–8, demanding 650–750 chill hours to break dormancy reliably and flower uniformly each spring. Plant in full sun — at least six hours of direct light daily — and choose a site with deep, well-drained loam at pH 6.0–7.0. Poor drainage is the single most common cause of tree decline; raised beds or slopes shed standing water away from the crown and reduce root rot pressure significantly. Space trees 20 ft apart to allow canopy development and air circulation, or opt for a semi-dwarf rootstock if your site is limited. Consistent moisture during fruit development (late spring through harvest) prevents cracking, which Bing is prone to in rainy years. Mulch 3–4 inches out to the drip line to stabilize soil moisture and suppress competing weeds. Moderate, balanced fertilization in early spring supports shoot growth without pushing excessive vegetative vigor that delays fruit set. Young trees typically begin bearing in 2–4 years under good cultural management, with full production established by year 5–7.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-8
AHS Heat Zone: 2-7
Chill Hours: 700-900
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Soil Type: Loam
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium
Drought Tolerance: Low
Plant Spacing: 20 ft apart
Container Suitability: Yes (dwarf rootstock only)
How to Prune: Prune in late winter to establish open center form, remove crossing and dead branches, and promote horizontal scaffold branches for light penetration and air circulation

On a standard rootstock, Bing develops into a moderately vigorous, upright-spreading tree that matures at 12–15 ft tall and 10–15 ft wide — a scale manageable for most home orchards without constant size-reduction pruning. The canopy structure is naturally open enough for light penetration when maintained with annual dormant pruning, which also encourages the young spur wood that produces the densest fruit loads. Bark is smooth and reddish-brown when young, developing characteristic horizontal lenticel markings as the trunk matures. Foliage is large and glossy, turning yellow-orange in autumn before leaf drop. Spring flowering is showy — clusters of white, five-petaled blossoms open in early April across most temperate climates within USDA zones 5 through 8, drawing pollinators before foliage fully expands. The tree benefits from training to a modified central leader or open-vase form; the latter improves spray penetration and harvest access. Space plants at least 20 ft center-to-center at planting to avoid crowding at full canopy spread.

Mature Height: 12-15 ft tall
Mature Spread: 10-15 ft wide
Growth Habit: Upright, spreading, rounded canopy
Growth Rate: Moderate (13-24 inches per year)
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub-canopy
Permaculture Role: Pollinator support, wildlife food
Leaf Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Yellow
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Bees and butterflies (pollinators); birds and small mammals (fruit)
Life Span: 15-25 years productive; up to 50+ years in landscape

Bing requires cross-pollination to set a commercial-quality crop; planting it alone consistently results in poor or no fruit despite abundant bloom. Flowers open in early April in a temperate climate, placing them in the midseason bloom window shared by many popular sweet cherry cultivars. Effective compatible pollinators available on our website include Black Tartarian Cherry, Rainier Cherry, Royal Ann Cherry, and Lapins Cherry. Note that Bing, Lambert, and Napoleon are all in the same incompatibility group and cannot pollinate each other — avoid pairing them as sole pollinators. Plant the pollinator within 50 ft for reliable bee transfer, and aim for at least one pollinator tree per every two to three Bing trees in larger plantings. Honeybee activity is the primary pollination vector; avoid applying any sprays during peak bloom.

Bloom Season: Early
Bloom Window: Early Apr
Pollination Requirements: Cross-pollination required
Pollination Mechanism: Insect-pollinated (primarily bees)
Flower Color: White
Ploidy: Diploid (2n)

Bing cherries ripen midseason — typically mid-June in a temperate climate — producing 1-inch-diameter fruit with deep red to near-black skin at full maturity. The flesh is firm and dark, with a dense, sweet flavor and low acidity that makes it outstanding for fresh eating directly off the tree. Sugar content is high enough that the fruit dries well, and Bing is a standard variety for homemade maraschino-style and brandied cherry preparations. Stones separate cleanly with a pitter, simplifying processing for preserves, juice, and dehydration. Refrigerate promptly after harvest and consume within a week to ten days at peak quality. Rain-induced cracking is the main harvest-timing challenge — picking just at full color before heavy rain events prevents the most significant losses. Pitted Bing also freezes well, giving you a reliable supply for baking and smoothies through winter.

Fruit Size: 1 inch
Flavor: Sweet
Fruit Color: Deep red
Fruit Texture: Firm, dense, crisp flesh
Bearing Habit: Annual bearer on spurs
Years to Bear: 2-4 years
Yield: 50-100 per mature tree annually
Storage Life: 2-3 weeks refrigerated; 1-2 days at room temperature
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating, pies, tarts, jams, jellies, juices, dried/dehydrated, wine, liqueurs, savory meat dishes

Bing is susceptible to Bacterial Canker (Pseudomonas syringae), the disease most likely to shorten its orchard lifespan in humid regions. Prune during dry late-summer weather only, and remove symptomatic wood showing gummosis or bark discoloration before infection spreads further. Verified resistance data for Brown Rot (Monilinia fructicola), Cherry Leaf Spot (Blumeriella jaapii), Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa), and X-Disease / Cherry Buckskin (Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni) was not available for Bing from peer-reviewed sources; apply standard cultural prevention for all four — open canopy for airflow, remove fallen leaves and mummified fruit annually, and plant certified disease-free stock. Key insect pests include Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar), Cherry Fruit Fly (Rhagoletis cingulata), Black Cherry Aphid (Myzus cerasi), and Spotted Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii). Fine mesh netting over trees during ripening is the most effective organic defense against Cherry Fruit Fly and Spotted Wing Drosophila. Kaolin clay applied before fruit softens adds a physical deterrent layer. Planting flowering herbs and native shrubs near the orchard builds populations of parasitic wasps that naturally suppress aphid pressure.

Brown Rot: Susceptible
Cherry Leaf Spot: Moderately Susceptible
Bacterial Canker: Susceptible
Black Knot: Moderately Susceptible
X-Disease / Cherry Buckskin: Susceptible
Plum Curculio: Moderately Susceptible
Cherry Fruit Fly: Moderately Susceptible
Black Cherry Aphid: Moderately Susceptible
Spotted Wing Drosophila: Susceptible

• Wait for full color: Harvest at full dark color for peak sugar; early picking leaves sweetness on the tree.
• Net before first color: Birds start foraging once color appears, not at full ripeness — install netting before any red shows.
• Prune in late summer: Time pruning to August–September rather than winter to reduce Bacterial Canker infection risk through open wounds.
• Copper at petal fall: Apply OMRI-listed copper-based organic spray at petal fall during wet springs to limit leaf spot and canker pressure.
• Open the canopy annually: Remove crossing branches each year to improve light penetration and airflow, which reduces Brown Rot and X-Disease pressure.

Our 365-Day Plant Guarantee: We ensure that our plants are delivered to you alive and healthy. If your plant does not survive its first year, you're eligible for store credit under these conditions:

1. Your location falls within the appropriate USDA hardiness zone for the plant variety (refer to our hardiness zone map).
2. You maintain the roots' moisture and plant within three days of delivery, following the instructions in our Planting Guide.

If you're concerned about your plant's health, please consult our guide, How to Tell if Your Tree is Dead or Dormant. Remember, our plants are shipped in a dormant state and may leaf out at different times based on their species. To check for plant vital