About
Prunus avium, the wild cherry, is a spreading, deciduous tree with nodding clusters of pure-white flowers 2.5 cm wide in late spring, followed by small, shiny, red-purple cherries. Dark-green leaves, bronze when young, turn orange and red in autumn. The parent of many cultivated sweet cherry varieties. A beautiful multi-season tree for a large, sunny garden.
About the genus
Prunus are deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring and, in many species, good autumn foliage colour. Some produce edible fruit in summer or autumn, and a few have ornamental bark. Among the most widely grown of all ornamental trees.
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun
Soil typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectNorth-facing, West-facing, East-facing, South-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH6
Plant details
Plant typeTrees, Fruit Edible
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
HeightHigher than 12 metres
Spreadwider than 8 metres
Time to full height20-50 years
Suggested usesCottage and informal garden, Wildflower meadow, Wildlife gardens
Native toEurope to Asia Minor, Caucasus, W Siberia
Care notes
CultivationGrow in moderately fertile soil in full sun. Cherries are best suited to fan-training so they can be netted against bird damage and protected from frosts. See sweet cherry cultivation for more advice
PruningTrain fan-trained trees in spring. Prune established fans and carry out routine pruning on established cherry trees when harvesting the fruits in summer
PropagationPropagate by chip budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can be successful.
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to cherry blackfly, pear and cherry slugworm and winter moth caterpillar. The fruit can be damaged by spotted wing drosophila and birds
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus. High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa