Gold Cherry is one of our most reliable and productive cherry varieties. According to Bob Purvis, it is considered the hardiest of all sweet cherry cultivars, withstanding temperatures as low as -38°F in River Falls, WI. This variety is also an excellent pollenizer, making it a great companion for most other sweet cherry trees.

Cold Hardiness and Survival

Gold Cherry and Lapins were the only sweet cherry varieties that survived our extreme -10°F fall temperature several years ago, proving their exceptional cold hardiness. This variety is perfect for growers in colder climates, as it can handle severe winter conditions better than most.

Fruit Characteristics and Ease of Growth

The fruit of Gold Cherry is firm, golden-yellow in color, and is known for its disease resistance and resistance to cracking. The yellow fruit is less attractive to birds, who tend to prefer red cherries, making Gold Cherry easier to protect and grow.

With a hint of tang, Gold Cherry offers the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness. It’s a great choice for first-time cherry growers and anyone looking to grow cherries in colder climates.

Pollination and Yield

Although Gold Cherry is self-fertile, it may yield better if you cross-pollinate it with another variety. Lapins is a good choice for this, as we believe it to be the second-hardest sweet cherry variety we have grown, alongside Gold.

Rootstock and Cold Tolerance

These trees are grafted onto Mahaleb rootstock, which is the most cold-tolerant rootstock we’ve worked with, ensuring that the trees remain hardy and strong in cold conditions.

Hardiness

Gold Cherry is hardy to USDA Zone 3b or Zone 3a in protected sites, making it an ideal choice for gardeners in colder regions.