Glacier Cherry is a self-fertile, dark red sweet cherry cultivar developed and patented by Washington State University, thriving in hardiness zones 5 through 9. This large-fruited variety reaches a mature height of 12 feet and produces heavily on dwarf rootstocks, delivering fruit sooner and in greater abundance than many other cherry trees. Known for its vigorous growth, later bloom time that helps it escape spring frosts, and exceptional flavor reminiscent of the classic Bing cherry, Glacier Cherry offers backyard gardeners a reliable, disease-resistant option for fresh eating and home orchards.
Full Sun
Moderate
5-9
144in H x ?in W
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Moderate
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Developed at Washington State University and patented for its superior performance, Glacier Cherry combines self-fertility with impressive productivity on dwarf rootstocks like Gisela 5. Its dark red color and rich flavor profile rival the iconic Bing cherry while offering the practical advantage of later blooming, which provides crucial frost protection in unpredictable springs. The combination of vigor, disease resistance, and proven parentage makes this a thoughtfully bred variety rather than a random seedling.
Glacier Cherry is grown primarily for fresh eating, where its large fruit size and exceptional flavor shine. The dark red color and sweet taste make it ideal for home consumption straight from the tree, though the fruit also works well for preserving, baking, and other culinary applications where premium cherry quality enhances the final dish.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Harvest Glacier Cherry cherries in mid-July when they reach full dark red color and yield slightly to gentle pressure. Pick fruit with the stem attached when possible to extend storage life, and taste a cherry from different parts of the tree to confirm peak sweetness before harvesting the entire crop. Ripe cherries detach easily from the branch with a gentle twist, indicating they're ready for picking.
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“Glacier Cherry represents the fruit breeding work of Washington State University, where horticultural researchers developed and patented this cultivar to deliver superior performance in home orchard settings. Drawing on the characteristics that made the Bing cherry legendary, the breeders created a variety that maintains exceptional flavor while improving upon the original's productivity and reliability, particularly when grafted onto dwarf rootstocks.”