New sweet cherry for low chill climates of the Southwest. Medium-sized red fruit is very firm with excellent flavor. Very productive tree.
Royal Lee Cherry
Royal Lee Cherry
- Estimated Chilling Requirement
200-300 hours below 45°F - USDA Plant Hardiness Zones
8 - 10 - Pollination
Pollenized by Minnie Royal.
- Bloom Season within fruit type(see note)
very early - Harvest Season within fruit type
early - Harvest Dates
May 11 to May 29(approximate for Hickman, CA) - Developed by Zaiger Genetics. U.S. Plant Patent No. 12417. (Expired)
- Royalty due on trees propagated prior to 4/3/2020
-WHERE TO BUY-
HOME GARDEN/RETAIL NURSERY CATALOG
Additional Notes
In low-chill climates and when the trees are young, Royal Lee tends to bloom a little later than Minnie Royal, pollenizing Minnie Royal but not being well-pollenized in return. Bloom overlap improves as the trees age, but Minnie Royal always out-produces Royal Lee.
Royal Lee cherry was originally called "Regal Lee", as shown on U.S. Plant Patent No. 12417.
WHILE DWARFING ROOTSTOCKS HAVE IMPORTANT ADVANTAGES, ROOTSTOCKS SHOULD BE SELECTED PRIMARILY FOR ADAPTABILITY TO THE SOIL AND CLIMATE OF THE PLANTING SITE. For the 2020-21 planting season, Royal Lee is offered on the following rootstock(s) (listed in order of quantity in production, largest quantity first):
Mazzard (standard)
Maxma 14® brokforest cv. (2/3 of standard size)
