Prunus avium 'Bing' (Cherry)

Bing is classic dark mahogany sweet cherry, the commercial PNW standard for over a century, large heart-shaped fruit with deep ruby flesh and rich balanced flavor. Prunus avium is the cultivated sweet cherry, originating in Europe, western Asia, North Africa and grown for centuries for its fruit. It is not native to North America.

Bloom and harvest in the PNW. Bloom is mid-season, with fruit ripening late June to early July in Oregon and Washington orchards. Site in full sun with good air drainage to reduce disease pressure.

Pollination. Bing is NOT self-fertile and requires a compatible second cultivar to set fruit. Recommended pollenizers: Black Republican, Van, Sam, Rainier, Lapins, Stella (Lapins or Stella are the easiest universal pollenizers; avoid Royal Ann/Napoleon as it is incompatible).

PNW disease and care. Bing is the variety most home growers picture when they imagine a sweet cherry, but it is self-incompatible and notoriously prone to cracking in PNW summer rains; net carefully against birds. The species-level disease pressures to plan for are brown rot (Monilinia laxa), bacterial canker, cherry leaf spot, and powdery mildew. Cherry fruit fly and spotted wing drosophila are the major insect pressures. Net trees against birds at color change.

Native fruiting alternatives: If you also want to support PNW birds and pollinators with regionally native fruit, consider Amelanchier alnifolia (Saskatoon serviceberry), Vaccinium ovatum (evergreen huckleberry), Malus fusca (Pacific crabapple), or Prunus virginiana (chokecherry). These provide bird food, pollinator support, and Indigenous food heritage in your landscape alongside your orchard fruit.