Many people believe it is poisonous. Others see their purpose as feeding songbirds. Others use them as a hedge in their garden. We're talking about bird cherry. It's time to refresh and expand knowledge about them.
What kind of plant is bird cherry?
The bird cherry (Prunus) belongs to the rose family and is native to Europe, North Africa and Asia Minor. It is deciduous with egg-shaped leaves and white flowers that appear from April to May. The drupes are edible and the plant can grow up to 25 meters high.
Short and to the point
- Plant family and genus: Rosaceae, Prunus
- Homeland: Europe, North Africa to Asia Minor
- Foliage: deciduous, egg-shaped, double-serrated edge, pointed
- Flowering: April to May, white, umbel-like
- Fruits: drupes, 1 cm large, edible
- Growth: up to 25 m high, upright, narrow, few branches
- Location: sunny to partially shaded
- Soil: sandy-loamy to loamy, neutral to alkaline, nutrient-rich, moist
- Use: bird feeder, ornamental tree, fruit tree
- Care needs: thin out regularly
A look into the details
The bird cherry root system has widely spread lateral roots. The image underground is similar to the image of the broadly conical crown on the surface. Bird cherry can grow as a shrub or tree. Its branches are light gray and shiny. There are many short shoots and under the bark there is a reddish grained wood.
In May, the stalked leaves of the bird cherry emerge. When sprouted, the leaves are ovate to elliptical, long pointed and wedge-shaped at the base. They grow between 3 and 15 cm long and between 2 and 7 cm wide. Before shedding, the foliage takes on yellowish tones.
The flowering period lasts from April to May. The fragrant flowers, up to 3.5 cm wide, offer a rich supply of pollen and nectar. The stone fruits emerge from them in summer. The non-poisonous cherries are 1 cm thick, round, long-stemmed and black when fully ripe.
What does the bird cherry require?
The bird cherry requires a partially shaded to full sun location when it is young. Later she needs a sunny place to feel really comfortable. It loves warmth and is frost hardy (down to -32 °C). It is ideal for high altitudes. It places the following demands on the floor:
- profound
- calcareous
- fresh to moist
- nutrient-rich
Tips & Tricks
As a wild tree, the bird cherry is considered extremely undemanding and easy to care for. It is ideal for taller hedges and offers a pretty ornamentation with its rich flowers and an edible obstacle with its fruits.
