Description
Van earns its place by solving other trees’ problems. Its full bloom coincides with Bing and with Royal Ann, and it is cross-compatible with both, which is exactly what those two need since they cannot pollinate each other or Lambert.
It is a good cherry on its own terms as well: firm, black, suitable for fresh eating and for canning, on a tree that is more winter hardy than either Bing or Royal Ann. The one habit to manage is that mature trees set so heavily that the fruit runs small, so thinning pays.
Overview
- An excellent pollinizer for both Bing and Royal Ann.
- Firm, black fruit, good fresh and good canned.
- More winter hardy than Bing or Royal Ann.
- Sets very heavily; thin for size.
Growing Details
Latin Name: Prunus avium ‘Van’
Site and Soil: 1/2 day to full day of sun; deep, well-drained soil
Hardiness: Hardy to USDA Zone 5
Chill Requirement: About 700 hours
Rootstock: Mazzard F 12-1
Bearing Age: 2 to 3 years after planting
Size at Maturity: 12 to 16 ft tall and wide, easily maintained smaller with pruning
Ripening Time: Mid season; June into July
Pollination: Needs a second sweet cherry; Bing, Royal Ann, Rainier and Stella all work
Pests & Diseases: Bacterial canker, brown rot and cherry fruit fly; summer pruning and airflow handle most of it
Additional Notes
- Grower’s Insight: One Van in the middle of a cherry planting pollinates almost everything around it, including the pairings that otherwise fail.
- Regional Insight: Cherries want a real winter and a dry spell at ripening; where June rain is common, airflow and a crack-resistant variety matter most.
- Explore more cherry trees in our collection: Cherry Trees
