Bing Cherry Tree

Bing is the classic sweet cherry: large, heart-shaped, dark mahogany-red, firm and very sweet. It's the cherry most people picture.

Bing is not self-fertile and must have a partner. Be aware that ripe Bing cherries can split if heavy rain comes right before harvest.

Net the tree as the fruit colors, or the birds will get there first.

Bing originated in Oregon around 1875 and was named for Ah Bing, a worker in the Lewelling family orchard. Be aware that it does best in dry climates like the Pacific Northwest. In South Jersey's humid summers it needs more care than most cherries, and some years rain will split the crop. If you want an easier sweet cherry, Stella or Black Tartarian are better bets here.

At a glance

You get

#7 container, about 1.25" caliper (trunk thickness 6 inches above the soil; each tree varies a little)

Hardiness zones

USDA 5–8 (Salem County is 7)

Blooms

Mid season

Ripens

Mid to late June

Starts bearing

Usually 3–5 years after planting

Mature size

A full-size tree; 20 ft or more unless kept pruned

Pollination

Needs a partner

Botanical name

Prunus avium

Price

$88 each, paid at pickup

Pickup

Pittsgrove, NJ, typically in March

The fruit

Looks

Large, heart-shaped, dark mahogany-red, firm

Flavor

Very sweet and rich

Best for

Fresh, Freezing

Keeps

1–2 weeks in the fridge; one of the better-keeping cherries

Pollination

Needs a second sweet cherry to pollinate it. Stella, Black Tartarian and Rainier are all good partners.

Good partners from our list

Stella Dwarf Cherry Tree$88 · view details Black Tartarian Cherry Tree$88 · view details Rainier Cherry Tree$88 · view details

Growing tips

Watch for: Bing struggles in humid, rainy weather like ours: fruit cracking, brown rot, bacterial canker and cherry leaf spot

• Full sun and very good drainage. Cherries hate wet feet more than most fruit trees.
• Birds love cherries. Plan on netting the tree as the fruit starts to color.
• Water during dry spells, but steadily: a heavy soaking right before harvest can split ripe sweet cherries.
• Prune lightly in late winter or right after harvest.

Spray schedule: Cherry Spray Schedule for New Jersey Home Orchards (Rutgers Cooperative Extension, fact sheet FS115)

New to planting fruit trees? Read our step-by-step planting guide: square hole, graft above the soil, native soil, and no fruit for the first two years.

Photos show the variety, not the exact plant you’ll get. Reservations are for the 2027 season, picked up at our farm in Pittsgrove, NJ, typically in March, and aren’t guaranteed until we confirm them. Questions? Ask us or call or text (856) 345‑4538.