Cherry Skeena Semidwarf
Skeena Semidwarf Cherry
Prunus avium ‘Skeena’ (Skeena™ Sweet Cherry — Semidwarf/Moderate Sweet Cherry)
Skeena is a high-quality sweet cherry cultivar developed in Canada, known for its large, firm, dark red to black cherries with rich sweet flavor and good rain-crack resistance. It ripens mid to late season (about 2 weeks after Bing), helping extend the harvest window. Many growers plant Skeena on semidwarf rootstocks (e.g., Krymsk 6) to keep mature tree size manageable for backyard orchards and edible landscapes.
Size:
Width: ~10–15 ft (semidwarf mature spread)
Height: ~10–15 ft (semidwarf mature height)
Zones: 5–9
Light: Full sun (6+ hrs/day)
Soil: Moist, well-drained soils
Features:
Fruit: Large, dark red to near-black sweet cherries with firm, juicy flesh and rich balanced flavor; good cracking resistance and quality for fresh eating and culinary use
Flowers: White spring blossoms that attract pollinators
Form: Upright, broad semidwarf fruit tree habit with strong structure and manageable canopy when grafted on semidwarf rootstock
Ripens later than many standard cherries, extending harvest season
Attracts:
Pollinators during bloom; birds may visit ripe fruit (netting recommended)
Uses:
Home orchards, edible landscapes, backyard fruit production, mixed orchard plantings
Notes:
• Skeena on semidwarf rootstock like Krymsk 6 keeps the tree size easier to manage (~10–15 ft) with good fruit yields.
• Although Skeena itself shows some self-fertility characteristics, pairing with another compatible sweet cherry (e.g., Bing, Regina) can improve pollination and yields in many regions.
• Late-season ripening makes it an excellent complement to earlier varieties in mixed plantings.
- Plant type
- Fruit Tree
- Height
- 10-15'
- Width
- 10-15'
- Hardiness zones
- 5–8
- Sunlight
- Full Sun
- Bloom time
- Spring
- Leaf color
- Green
- Fall color
- Yellow
- Attracts
- Bees, Birds
- Soil
- Moist well-drained
- Landscape use
- Fruit
- Shape
- Broad Upright
- Fruit
- Yes
- Fragrant
- Yes
- Drought tolerant
- No