Hi Kurt and thanks for your question about cherry trees in the Willamette Valley. I must first warn you that there are many diseases that cherries get and no sure-fire way to stop them. I have planted 3 cherry trees over the last 30 years in my Milwaukie home and the all have contracted viruses, fungi and bacterial infections no matter what I try. Cherries do much better on the east side of the Cascades.

If you want to try, Lapins and Sweetheart are self-pollinating and Rainier is a more yellow-red cherry. Royal Hazel and Regina are early and late varieties, respectively and Montmorency is the recommended pie cherry. We all still love the Bing cherry, developed here in Milwaukie, but it can use a pollinizer such as Stella or Van to get the best crop.

Best of luck, and if you give up every few years like I do, the Farmer's Markets have great cherries in season!