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Prunus avium

Prunus avium

Bird Cherry, sweet cherry, gean

Description

Prunus avium (wild cherry) is found growing in small pockets on the forest edges of Europe and Western Asia with, amongst others, Fraxinus excelsior and Tilia cordata. Wild cherry becomes a large tree fifteen to twenty-five metres tall and forms a strong, upright trunk because of apical dominance. Imposing multi-stem specimens also occur however. In juvenile trees, the crown shape is semi-open pyramidal; in older specimens, the crown becomes broadly egg-shaped to round and over fifteen metres wide.

In April, Prunus avium produces simple, white flowers arranged in clusters on fruiting spurs. Bees, butterflies and other insects love them. The dark red, edible cherries appear after the blossom: birds soon polish them off. The light green, ovate leaves appear just as the flower buds have emerged, turn dark green in the summer and finish off a lovely yellow-red to violet-red in the autumn. The smooth, brown-red bark has lenticels and peels off horizontally. The bark gets darker as the tree ages. The twigs are also red-brown to grey.

Wild cherry is a true landscape tree that needs a lot of space and gets to between 100 and 150 years old. Also, in open green verges on avenues and in parks this species forms a fantastic harbinger of spring. Prunus avium likes growing on nutrient-rich, moisture-retentive soils where it can develop deep roots but is very adaptable. It does not tolerate paving, road salt or compact ground and is moderately wind-resistant. Prunus avium is often used as a rootstock for other (ornamental) cherries. Its timber is also very valuable and in demand in the furniture industry.

Types of planting

Tree types

standard trees half-stem trees feathered trees multi-stemmed trees shade trees characteristic trees fruit trees woodland planting stock solitary shrubs

Topiary on stem

fval multi-stem umbrella

Use

Location

park central reservation large garden traffic areas, industrial zones countryside ecological zone

Pavement

none none

Planting concepts

food forest eco planting landscape planting

Characteristics

Crown shape

rounded rounded wide egg-shaped wide egg-shaped

Crown structure

semi-open semi-open

Height

15 - 25 m

Width

10 - 15 m

Winter hardiness zone

4A - 9B

Aspects

Wind

slightly tolerant to wind

Soil

loess sabulous clay light clay sand loamy soil

Nutrient level

moderately rich in nutrients rich in nutrients

Soil moisture level

dry moist

Light requirements

sun partial shade

pH range

acidic neutral alkaline

Host plant/forage plant

bees butterflies birds small mammals nectar value 5 pollen value 5

Extreme environments

tolerates air pollution

Get to know Ebben Nurseries

Visit our nurseries with multi-stem trees, climbing trees, trees for avenues and parks characteristic trees and solitary shrubs.

Make an appointment

Place order or further information?

Order this plant? Or would you like further information about Prunus avium? Make an appointment for a detailed planting recommendation.
Call +31(0) 485 31 20 21 or email one of our advisors directly.
Our planting advisors

Photos

Magnify

Seasonal colours

Prunus avium seizoenskleur
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Flowers

Flowers

raceme striking singular

Flower colour

white

Flowering period

April

Leaves

Leaf colour

matt green

Leaves

deciduous ovate serrate

Autumn colour

yellow-orange

Fruits

Fruit colour

dark red black

Fruits

striking edible cherry

Bark

Bark colour

red-brown

Bark

smooth striped

Twigs

Twig colour

red-brown

Twigs

bare with lenticels horizontal branches

Root system

Root system

deep extensive highly branched coarse roots tap root

For and by green professionals

The TreeEbb is a platform for and by green professionals, in which we collect knowledge and experience from the sector and make this available for users. All the details and photos are free to use for non-commercial purposes. Want to share your tree knowledge? Send photographs and additional information to treeebb@ebben.nl

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TreeEbb

Geographic location
Winter hardiness zone
OK
Coastal area
OK
Use
Location
OK
Pavement
OK
Host plant/forage plant
OK
Planting concepts
OK
Types of planting
Tree types
OK
Multi-stemmed trees
OK
Crown structure
OK
Crown shape
OK
Topiary on stem
OK
Topiary
OK
Height
m
-
m
OK
Width
m
-
m
OK
Aspects
Wind
OK
Soil
OK
Nutrient level
OK
Soil moisture level
OK
Light requirements
OK
PH range
OK
Extreme environments
OK
Stage of succession
OK
Plant characteristics
Flowering period
January
-
December
OK
Flower colour
OK
Leaf colour
OK
Autumn colour
OK
Fruit colour
OK
Bark colour
OK
Special features
OK
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