Regina

Tree Characteristics

• Vigour: Medium to high
• Growth Habit: Upright to spreading, requires structured pruning
• Flowering: Mid to late season
• Pollination: Not self-fertile; requires compatible pollinisers
• Productivity: Moderate to good when well managed
• Alternate Bearing: Low
• Site Suitability: Best suited to cooler Australian cherry-growing regions with reliable winter chill

Grower note: Regina is often selected for sites where late-season rainfall increases cracking risk in other varieties.

Fruit Characteristics

• Colour: Dark red to mahogany at full maturity
• Colour Timing: Late season
• Finish: Glossy with very strong skin strength
• Shape: Large, round to slightly heart-shaped
• Stem: Medium to long, strong attachment
• Eating Quality: Very firm, juicy flesh with a rich, balanced sweet flavour

Harvest & Storage

• Harvest Window: Late season, typically after Lapins and around or after Simone in Australia
• Picking: One to two picks depending on maturity and size targets
• Storability: Good short-term storage potential; suitable for domestic and export supply

Grower note: Strong firmness and skin strength support better post-harvest performance in late-season programs.

Performance & Management

• Packout: Strong in well-managed orchards, driven by size, firmness, and low cracking incidence
• Thinning: May be required in heavy crop years to maintain fruit size
• Cropping: Reliable with appropriate pollination and crop load management
• Canopy Management: Regular pruning required to maintain light penetration and fruit quality
• Pest & Disease: Standard cherry pest and disease management required

Market Advantages

• Reduced cracking risk supports late-season reliability
• Large, firm fruit suitable for premium and export markets
• Extends cherry supply late into the season
• Strong eating quality with good shelf life