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Rainier is a mid-season, premium export-quality blushed yellow sweet cherry, the highest value cherry produced in the Pacific Northwest. More similar to Van than Bing in shape, the fruit is very large in size, with a yellow skin having patches of red blush and clear yellow flesh. It ripens 3 to 6 days after Bing, has excellent firmness, and an outstanding sweet, mild flavor. The susceptibility to rain-induced cracking is comparable to Bing; its susceptibility to bruising is similar to Bing but bruises show more readily due to the yellow flesh.
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Rainier produces a vigourous, spreading tree. Its productivity is very good. Rainier flowers precociously and fruits heavily, achieving sizable early yields even on typically vigorous, non-precocious rootstocks. Dwarfing rootstocks may provide greater control in managing the canopy light environment (important for good blush development) and in protecting the fruit from wind and rain. Rainier has both superior bud and wood cold hardiness.
Rainier begins blooming a day or two ahead of Bing, with a generally good overlap with both Bing and Van in the Pacific Northwest. It is self-infertile; known cross-pollinizers include Bing, Van, Sam, Index™, and Lapins. Pollen compatibility Group IX (S1S4).
The chilling requirement of Rainier is not yet known. Rainier is susceptible to powdery mildew.