Regina Cherry

Regina was bred at the Jork Fruit Research Station (Obstbauversuchsring des Alten Landes) in Jork, in the Alte Land fruit-growing region near Hamburg, Germany, through a cross of Schneiders Spathe Knorpelkirsche x Rube. The cross was initiated in the 1950s as part of a sustained program aimed at improving crack resistance and late-season performance under the cool, often wet harvest conditions characteristic of northern European cherry-growing regions. Breeder Karl-Heinz Tiemann led the selection and evaluation process; the cultivar was officially released in 1998, with the seedling having been selected in 1981. Regina is regarded as the most commercially successful sweet cherry to have come out of the Jork station. Its parentage combined Schneiders Spathe Knorpelkirsche’s large, late-maturing fruit with improved crack resistance from the Rube parent. It quickly earned a reputation in German and broader European orchards for holding quality on the tree during wet weather that splits competing late varieties. Regina has expanded into North American plantings, including commercial production in Oregon, as growers in humid-summer regions seek late-season alternatives with reliable crack tolerance.

Regina grows on semi-dwarfing to standard rootstocks, reaching 10–13 ft tall with proper training — manageable for home orchards and small commercial blocks. It thrives in full sun with well-drained soil at pH 6.0–7.0, and benefits from a raised or sloped planting site to improve cold-air drainage and reduce frost risk during bloom. Chill requirement is approximately 700–800 hours below 45°F, making Regina well suited to USDA Zones 5–7 and marginal in warmer Zone 8 locations. The tree has a strong upright structure when young and responds well to open-center or modified central-leader training. Apply 2–3 inches of mulch around the root zone to moderate soil moisture, but keep mulch pulled back from the trunk collar to discourage crown rot. Irrigation during dry stretches between petal fall and harvest supports fruit sizing without triggering the surface cracking that plagues thinner-skinned varieties under irregular moisture; Regina's natural crack tolerance provides a meaningful buffer when summer rain arrives at the wrong time.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 5-7
AHS Heat Zone: 1-7
Chill Hours: 800-1000
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0
Soil Type: Loam
Soil Drainage: Well-drained
Water Requirements: Medium

On semi-dwarfing rootstock, Regina trees reach 10–13 ft tall with an upright to slightly spreading canopy. The growth habit is moderately vigorous, producing a well-structured branch framework that supports heavy crops without excessive vegetative growth. Bark is smooth reddish-brown on young wood; leaves are large, glossy, and ovate with serrated margins typical of Prunus avium. White blossoms appear in mid-to-late spring across temperate climates in USDA zones 5 through 8, putting Regina in the mid-to-late bloom window — an important consideration when selecting pollinators. Trees are self-sterile and require a compatible sweet cherry nearby for fruit set. Fruit loads can be heavy in productive years; thinning is rarely needed, but supports are advisable for scaffold limbs on older trees carrying full crops. Regina is not suited to container growing at mature size, but trains well to a wall or espalier frame when space is limited.

Mature Height: 10-13 ft tall
Mature Spread: 15-18 ft wide
Growth Habit: Upright, moderately vigorous
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Food Forest Layer: Canopy, Sub-canopy
Permaculture Role: Pollinator support, wildlife food
Leaf Color: Green
Fall Foliage Color: Orange to red
Thorns?: No
Attracts Wildlife: Bees and butterflies (pollinators); birds and small mammals (fruit)
Life Span: 30-50+ years

Regina is self-sterile and requires cross-pollination from a compatible sweet cherry blooming at the same time. It falls in the mid-to-late sweet cherry bloom group, so pollinators should share that timing. On-website options that work well include Lapins Cherry, Stella Cherry, and Sweetheart Cherry. Lapins and Stella are both universal donors with broad bloom overlap and are reliable choices for most sweet cherry orchards. Sweetheart extends the harvest window while serving the pollination role. Plant pollinators within 50–100 ft for strong bee-mediated pollen transfer. Avoid pairing Regina with Bing or varieties in the same incompatibility group. In regions with short, cool springs, selecting two pollinator options provides insurance against one variety's bloom being cut short by a late frost.

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

Regina produces large, firm, heart-shaped cherries that open bright red and deepen to near-black purple at full ripeness in late June in a temperate climate — one of the later harvest windows among sweet cherries, which can be a significant advantage for extending the fresh-cherry season. Flavor is sweet-tart with balanced acidity, becoming sweeter and richer as the fruit fully colors. Flesh is firm and dense, holding up well to handling and short-term storage without the bruising that affects softer-fleshed cultivars. The standout characteristic is crack resistance: Regina's thick skin tolerates rain events and irregular soil moisture that split most other sweet cherries near harvest. Fruit is excellent for fresh eating, can be pitted and frozen with good texture retention, and holds its structure in baked goods and preserves. Pit removal is straightforward given the firm flesh and well-defined freestone tendency at full ripeness.

Ripening Season: Early
Harvest Window: Late Jun
Fruit Size: 1-1.2 inch (extra-large)
Flavor: Sweet-tart; sweetness increases at full ripeness (deep purple)
Fruit Color: Bright red at first; deep purple at full ripeness
Fruit Texture: Firm; crack-resistant; clingstone
Bearing Habit: Annual bearer; late-season
Years to Bear: 4-7 years
Storage Life: Less than 1 month under proper refrigeration
Culinary Uses: Fresh eating; pies and tarts; jams and preserves; juice; dried/dehydrated; canning; wine and liqueur flavoring

Regina shows moderate susceptibility to brown rot (Monilinia fructicola), which can strike rapidly on wet, ripe fruit — the same humid conditions where its crack resistance shines. Manage with good air circulation through annual pruning, prompt removal of mummified fruit, and OMRI-listed copper fungicides applied at petal fall and again if wet weather persists near harvest. Cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella jaapii) affects the foliage under humid summer conditions; rake and destroy leaf litter each fall to reduce overwintering inoculum. Regina has no known strong resistance to bacterial canker (Pseudomonas syringae), so prune only during dry weather and seal larger cuts promptly. Black knot (Apiosporina morbosa) is an Eastern orchard concern; prune out galls 4 inches below the visible margin each dormant season and destroy the cuttings. Plum curculio and cherry fruit fly are the primary insect threats; kaolin clay applied from petal fall through shuck split provides a non-toxic physical barrier. Spotted wing drosophila pressure increases as fruit softens near harvest — monitor with traps and harvest promptly when fruit reaches full color.

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

• Time your harvest by color, not calendar: Wait for deep purple — not just red — before picking; flavor and sugar content increase significantly in the final few days on the tree.
• Plant two pollinators, not one: Lapins and Stella together give Regina overlapping bloom coverage and a hedge against one variety having a shortened bloom from a late frost.
• Irrigate evenly approaching harvest: Even with Regina's crack tolerance, wild swings from dry to wet soil near harvest can split fruit; consistent soil moisture in the final 3–4 weeks reduces that risk.

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