Many believe it is poisonous. Others see their purpose in feeding songbirds. Still others use them as a hedge in their garden. We're talking about the bird cherry. It's time to refresh and expand the knowledge about them.
Short and to the point
- Plant family and genus: Rosaceae, Prunus
- Origin: Europe, North Africa to Asia Minor
- Foliage: Deciduous, ovate, doubly serrate margin, acuminate
- Flowers: April to May, white, like umbels
- Fruits: Drupes, 1 cm in size, edible
- Growth: up to 25 m tall, upright, narrow, few branches
- Location: sunny to semi-shady
- Soil: sandy-loamy to loamy, neutral to alkaline, nutritious, moist
- Utilization: wood for feeding birds, ornamental tree, fruit tree
- Care requirements: thin out regularly
A look into the details
The root system of the bird cherry has widely spread lateral roots. The subsurface image is similar to the image of the broadly conical crown on the surface. The bird cherry can grow as a shrub or tree. Its branches are light gray and glossy. There are many short shoots and under the bark there is a reddish grained wood.
The stalked leaves of the bird cherry sprout in May. When sprouted, the leaves are ovate to elliptical, long pointed and wedge-shaped at the base. They are between 3 and 15 cm long and between 2 and 7 cm wide. Before shedding, the foliage takes on yellowish hues.
The flowering period lasts from April to May. The fragrant and up to 3.5 cm wide flowers offer a rich supply of pollen and nectar. The stone fruits emerge from them in summer. The non-toxic cherries are 1 cm thick, round, long-stemmed and black when fully ripe.
What does the wild cherry ask for?
When young, the bird cherry requires a partially shaded to full sun location. Later she needs a sunny place to feel really comfortable. It likes warmth and is frost hardy (to -32 °C). It is ideal for high altitudes. It makes the following demands on the floor:
- profound
- calcareous
- fresh to moist
- nutritious
tips and tricks
As a wild tree, the bird cherry is extremely undemanding and easy to care for. It is ideal for higher hedges and offers a pretty ornament with its rich blooms and an edible obstacle with its fruits.
KKF