There is described a memory cell having a vertically oriented polysilicon pillar diode for use in delivering large current flow through a variable resistance material memory element. The pillar diode comprises a plurality of polysilicon layers disposed in a vertical stack between a wordline and digitline. The memory element is disposed in series with the diode, also between the wordline and the digitline. The diode is capable of delivering the large current flow required to program the memory element without also requiring the surface space on the upper surface of the memory matrix normally associated with such powerful diodes. The invention allows memory cells to be disposed every 0.7 microns or less across the face of a memory matrix. Further, the memory cell is easily fabricated using standard processing techniques. The unique layout of the inventive memory cell allows fabrication with as few as three mask steps or less.