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Sweet Cherry variety

Royal Rainier

The short answer

Royal Rainier requires 500 chill hours[1] and grows in USDA zones 5–9[1]. It needs a pollination partner[1].

Growing facts

Royal Rainier growing facts
Chill requirement500 chill hours[1] (nursery figure)
HardinessUSDA zones 5–9[1] (nursery figure)
PollinationNeeds a pollination partner, bloom group 3[1]
Harvest windowJune[1]
Years to bearing5–7 years (typical for sweet cherries)[2]
Royal Rainier sweet cherrySpecies illustration — no historical watercolor exists for this cultivar

Pollination partners

Royal Rainier blooms in group 3. The closest bloom-time matches make the most reliable partners:

Show 5 more compatible varieties

Notes

  • Not self-fruitful; pollenized by Bing, Black Tartarian or Lapins.[1]
  • Large yellow-with-red-blush cherry ripening about 3-5 days before Rainier.[1]

A year with your Royal Rainier

When the work happens for a sweet cherry in USDA zone 7, anchored to typical frost dates.

Months for pruning, thinning, spray-timing windows, and harvest for Sweet Cherry in zone 7
TaskJFMAMJJASOND
Prune——————————
Spray timing——————
Harvest—————————
Care——————————

See the full month-by-month sweet cherry calendar for zone 7 →

Can I grow Royal Rainier where I live?

Check the verdict for a few regions, or your exact ZIP:

Growing a Royal Rainier? Get its care calendar for your exact ZIP code, with email reminders.

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Questions

How many chill hours does Royal Rainier need?
Royal Rainier needs 500 chill hours.
What hardiness zones suit Royal Rainier?
Royal Rainier grows in USDA zones 5–9.
Is Royal Rainier self-pollinating?
No — Royal Rainier needs a compatible pollination partner nearby.

Sources

  1. [1] Dave Wilson Nursery. Cherries — DWN Variety Finder product list — accessed July 2026
  2. [2] University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine — Lack of Fruitfulness — accessed July 2026