Cherry (Sweet), Blushing Gold, Bare Root

Blushing Gold Cherry (Prunus avium ‘NY 8182’)

Blushing Gold is a light-colored sweet cherry with pale flesh and a gentle sweet flavor. It ripens later than many familiar dark cherries and adds a different fruit color to a home orchard.

Key Characteristics

A light-colored dessert cherry

Golden fruit may develop a light blush as it ripens. The sweet flavor works fresh, in desserts, and in preserves where a paler cherry is useful.

A later cherry-season choice

Blushing Gold generally ripens about two weeks after Bing in comparative trials. Exact picking dates depend on the growing region, so use that as a relative season rather than a fixed calendar promise.

Heavy crops need timely harvest

This is a productive cultivar with long stems and fruit that releases readily when ripe. It is not crack-proof; pick promptly during wet harvest weather and provide a compatible pollen source.

Pollination Partners

Cross-pollination requires a different compatible cultivar. Options in our 2027 selection include Stella. Cross-pollination depends on overlapping bloom, not matching harvest months.

Rootstock and Mature Size

Plan for approximately 15–20 feet at maturity, depending on site and pruning. The offered variant identifies the rootstock; keep the graft union above soil level and remove rootstock suckers.

Product Details

• Sun: Full sun to light partial shade; full sun is best for fruiting.
• Soil: medium to medium-dry, well-drained soil; avoid standing water.
• Mature height: Approximately 15–20 feet; see rootstock and pruning guidance above.
• Bloom: Mid- to late-season spring; white flowers.
• Fruit: Golden to lightly blushed sweet cherries with pale flesh.
• Uses: Fresh eating, desserts, canning, and preserves.
• Ripening: June–July
• Chill hours: A reliable cultivar-specific chill-hour requirement has not been confirmed.
• Pollination: Cross-pollination with a compatible cultivar required.
• USDA hardiness: Zones 5–8.

General Cherry Orchard Guidance

A good start

Choose well-drained soil and enough room for the mature tree. Water consistently while roots establish, mulch with space around the trunk, and keep vigorous grass and other competitors away from the young root zone.

Fertility and fruit-tree guilds

Use a soil test to guide lime and fertilizer rather than feeding heavily by default. Our Tree Planting Kit fertilizer blend is an optional planting supplement; keep concentrated fertilizer away from bare roots and avoid excess nitrogen.

Interested in permaculture and stacking functions around your fruit trees? Explore our fruit-tree guild guide for ideas on combining plants for flowers, ground cover, and mulch while giving your tree room to grow.

Practical pest and disease care

Prune in dry weather for an open crown and remove damaged or mummified fruit. Monitor for brown rot, leaf spot, aphids, and spotted wing drosophila near ripening; harvest promptly and use fine insect netting where practical. Birds also enjoy cherries, so plan wildlife-safe exclusion before fruit colors.