Variety fit — Alabama
Can I grow Royal Ann sweet cherry in Alabama?
The verdict
Not recommended
- Your zone 8a is warmer than this variety's range (zones 5–7); it may not receive reliable winter chilling.
Based on Alabama’s main growing area (35045): zone 8a, ~811 chill hours. Your exact site may differ — check your ZIP.
The numbers
| Royal Ann chill requirement | 700 chill hours |
|---|---|
| Royal Ann hardiness | USDA zones 5–7 |
| Alabama average chill (35045) | 811 hours (547–953 across 10 winters) |
| Alabama zone (35045) | USDA zone 8a |
Better sweet cherry choices for Alabama
These meet Alabama’s chill hours and zone comfortably:
Keep checking
Or the same verdict for another region:
Questions
- Can I grow Royal Ann sweet cherry in Alabama?
- Probably not — Your zone 8a is warmer than this variety's range (zones 5–7); it may not receive reliable winter chilling.
Sources
- [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