Variety fit — Texas

Can I grow Early Richmond tart-cherry in Texas?

The verdict

Maybe — with caveats

Some winters reach the 700+ chill hours this variety needs, but not most — expect inconsistent cropping.

Based on Texas’s main growing area (78701): zone 9a, ~531 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.

The numbers

Early Richmond requirements vs. Texas climate
Early Richmond chill requirement	700 chill hours
Early Richmond hardiness	USDA zones 4–9
Texas average chill (78701)	531 hours (270–723 across 10 winters)
Texas zone (78701)	USDA zone 9a

Early Richmond tart cherrySpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

These meet Texas’s chill hours and zone comfortably:

Or the same verdict for another region:

Planting an Early Richmond in Texas? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

Can I grow Early Richmond tart-cherry in Texas?: Possibly — Some winters reach the 700+ chill hours this variety needs, but not most — expect inconsistent cropping.

[1] Open-Meteo / Copernicus ERA5. Historical Weather API (hourly 2m temperature) — accessed July 2026
[2] USDA / PRISM (Oregon State University). 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map — accessed July 2026
[3] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026