Bird Cherry - Prunus avium

The Wild cherry or bird cherry, in Latin Prunus avium, like its close relative the sour cherry (Prunus cerasus), is the ancestor of the cultivated cherry trees in our gardens for their sweet and succulent cherries. It is a fruit tree of good size, which grows spontaneously in the forests of Western Europe. It is interesting for its rapid growth, its white and fragrant flowering in early spring, its small red cherries that attract birds and its autumn colours. These fruits are edible but often have a bitter taste. However, they have a wonderful aroma of bitter almond that can be found in Kirsch. Make sure to provide enough space and a well-cleared location to accommodate it in the garden.

The wild cherry belongs to the rose family. Its presence has been documented in Europe since the Neolithic period and its cultivation dates back to the fourth century BC, in the Caucasus and Anatolia. It is a tree with rapid and significant development, reaching over 10 m (33ft) in height with a slightly more modest width. It develops a straight trunk and a regular, airy crown, with an oval shape and a narrow top, supported by slightly upright branches. Its bark is thin and shiny, initially reddish-brown in colour, but tends to peel off in strips. The abundant and decorative flowering takes place in April-May, just before the appearance of the foliage. It takes the form of small clusters of white flowers that attract bees. To obtain fruiting, it is necessary for the flowers to be pollinated by another cherry tree present nearby. The small cherries, with long stalks, turn dark red when ripe. Their flesh is slightly sweet and acidic, bitter and aromatic. The deciduous foliage appears in spring and falls in autumn. It consists of alternate, elliptical leaves with toothed edges. They turn yellow and orange in October-November before falling. The root system of the Wild cherry is deep and powerful, with fairly long trailing roots capable of suckering. This wild cherry is often used as a rootstock, especially for limestone soils. And its soft wood is highly valued in cabinetmaking.

The Wild cherry is best planted as a standalone tree in a large garden or in an orchard where its presence will promote good pollination for classic cherry trees. In a garden that makes room for nature, you can also plant a blackthorn, an Amelanchier, a rowan tree, a whitebeam, an Aronia 'Brilliant'...