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Black Gold Sweet Cherry (Spring 2027)
$64.99
Reliable shipping
Flexible returns
Pollination
Self-fertile
Bloom group
6 of 7 (Late)
Ripening
Will it finish before your first hard freeze?
Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)
At a glance: Black Gold Sweet Cherry is a cherry tree rated hardy to zone 3b in our ratings (winters to -35°F), self-fertile, so one tree can crop (bloom group 6 of 7, late for a sweet cherry), and it ripens about Jul 17 to Jul 29 in Missoula (our Missoula estimate).
| Hardy to | Zone 3b to 8. The b means the warmer half of zone 3 only (winters to -35°F). Our notes have it taking -33°F. Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator. |
|---|---|
| Pollination | Self-Fertile. Bloom group 6 of 7 (late), mid spring here. Black Gold is self-fertile and will crop on its own. Because it blooms late, it is the best pollenizer in our lineup for Gold, which also blooms late and needs a partner. Nearby varieties that can boost the crop: Gold Sweet Cherry, White Gold Sweet Cherry. Sweet Cherry Pollination Map. |
| Ripens | About Jul 17 to Jul 29 in Missoula (a Missoula estimate from published sources). Real years swing about a week either way. See the date for your town. |
| Rootstock and size | Mazzard: full size, about 25 to 35 ft (sweet cherry), 15 to 18 ft (tart cherry) tall unpruned. Slow to bear, often 5 to 6 years. Mahaleb: full size, about 20 to 30 ft (sweet cherry), 15 to 18 ft (tart cherry) tall unpruned. Loves dry, well-drained soil. Our rootstock guide. |
| Good for | Fresh eating (8/10), pollenizing other trees (7/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists. |
| Deer | A deer favorite. Fence it or cage it. |
| What you get | Bare root, 5-7 ft. Regular Grade or 5-7 ft. Larger & More Branching. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out. |
Overview
Black Gold is one of the most cold-hardy sweet cherries, having survived temperatures as low as -33°F. We used to rank Black Gold third in cold hardiness amongst sweet cherries, only behind Gold and White Gold, but we've found that Lapins actually surpasses Black Gold and White Gold in terms of winter survival. Still Black Gold has fared well in the cold compared to many other varieties of sweet cherries we've grown in MT.
Flavor Profile and Ideal Uses
This cherry variety delivers a distinct sweet cherry flavor with notes of honey and a delightful splash of tanginess. It’s perfect for fresh eating and adds a delicious topping to ice cream. Black Gold typically ripens in July, making it a great summer treat.
Self-Fertility and Pollination Benefits
Black Gold is a self-fertile variety, meaning it doesn’t require another cherry tree for pollination. However, it is also an excellent pollenizer for other sweet cherry varieties, earning the reputation of being a "universal" pollenizer. Its bloom time overlaps with many other sweet cherries, making it a valuable addition to any orchard.
Late Blooming and Cold Climate Benefits
One of the key advantages of Black Gold is its late blooming nature. This helps protect the tree from late spring frosts that can damage early-blooming varieties, making it ideal for colder climates.
Disease Resistance and Hardiness
The fruit of Black Gold shows resistance to cracking, and the tree itself exhibits significant tolerance to canker, a common issue in cherry orchards. This makes Black Gold a must-have for anyone planting a Montana sweet cherry orchard. It is hardy to USDA Zone 4a/3b in protected sites.
Grafting Information
For Spring 2027, our Black Gold cherries are grafted onto two full-size rootstocks, Mazzard and Mahaleb. Both come in a regular grade and a larger, more branched grade (all 5-7 ft. and pruned to 5 ft. for shipping).
Image courtesy of Hans Braxmeier under CC 2.0.
Questions we get about Black Gold Sweet Cherry
Does Black Gold Sweet Cherry need a pollenizer?
No. Black Gold Sweet Cherry is self-fertile, so a single tree can set fruit. Black Gold is self-fertile and will crop on its own. Because it blooms late, it is the best pollenizer in our lineup for Gold, which also blooms late and needs a partner. Partners we carry include Gold Sweet Cherry, White Gold Sweet Cherry.
How cold hardy is Black Gold Sweet Cherry?
We rate Black Gold Sweet Cherry hardy to zone 3b, which means winters down to about -35°F. Our notes have it taking -33°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.
When does Black Gold Sweet Cherry ripen?
About Jul 17 to Jul 29 in Missoula, Montana (an estimate built from published sources and our climate). Warmer places run earlier and cooler places later; our ripening map converts the date to your town.
How big does Black Gold Sweet Cherry get?
We graft Black Gold Sweet Cherry onto Mazzard (full size), which makes a tree roughly 25 to 35 ft (sweet cherry), 15 to 18 ft (tart cherry) tall if you never prune it. Some sizes are on Mahaleb.
What is Black Gold Sweet Cherry good for?
Our top use scores for Black Gold Sweet Cherry are fresh eating (8/10), pollenizing other trees (7/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.
Will deer eat Black Gold Sweet Cherry?
Yes, deer love it. Protect Black Gold Sweet Cherry with a fence or a cage, especially while it is young.
Pollination partners
Good partners for Black Gold Sweet Cherry
Black Gold Sweet Cherry is self-fertile, so one tree will fruit on its own. If you'd like a second sweet cherry, these bloom at the same time and work well together.
Bloom group
6 of 7 (Late)
Pollination
Self-fertile
Pollen
Good pollenizer
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Gold Sweet Cherry(Spring 2027)
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White Gold Sweet Cherry(Spring 2027)
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