Fruits
Prunus avium 'Rainier'
Rainier sweet cherry
A yellow cherry with red blush and sweet, pale flesh. Fruit quality is excellent, but the light skin shows bruises readily and the tree needs a compatible pollinizer.
At a glance
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Even moisture; well-drained soil
- Hardiness
- USDA zones 5–9 (grower rating)
Sizes & prices
- #7Call for price
Catalog updated September 8, 2026. This is not a live stock count; please call to confirm availability and price.
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Pollinators & wildlife
- Attracts
- Bees
Fruit & harvest
- Tri-state harvest
- Typically June–July.
- First bearing
- Approximately 6–7 years after planting; stock age and rootstock matter.
- Pollination
- Needs pollen from a compatible sweet cherry with overlapping bloom; do not assume any sweet cherry will work.
- Pollinizer partner
- Bing is genetically compatible and in the same reported bloom period; local bloom overlap still matters.
Growing & care
- Care & pruning
- Prune to admit light and air, and protect ripening fruit from birds. Handle fruit gently after harvest.
- Rootstock & size
- For grafted fruit trees, mature size and time to fruit depend on the rootstock as well as pruning. Check the individual tree tag when selecting planting space.
- Size & rootstock
- Mature size and spacing depend on the cultivar and rootstock. Ask which rootstock is supplied before choosing a planting location.
Sources & photo credits
Oregon State University Extension
Oregon State University Extension
University of Maryland Extension
Reviewed October 1, 2026. Growing conditions vary by location.