Prunus avium Plena - Double Gean

The Double-flowered Cherry, in Latin Prunus avium 'Plena', is a beautiful double-flowered form of the cherry tree that does not produce fruit. It is a medium-sized tree cultivated for its ornamental qualities. It is interesting for its uniform habit, its massive white flowering in early spring, its shiny reddish-brown bark, and its autumn foliage. Make sure to provide space and a clear location in the garden.

The bird cherry (Prunus avium) belongs to the Rosaceae family. Its presence has been attested in Europe since the Neolithic period and its cultivation dates back to the fourth century BCE, in the Caucasus and Anatolia. It is found in the wild in most European countries, from Scandinavia to Mediterranean regions, as well as in Turkey and the Caucasus. It often grows in deciduous forests and mixed woods. This species prefers well-drained and fertile soils, although it can adapt to a variety of soil conditions. It can be found at different altitudes, from plains up to approximately 1500 m in mountainous areas.

Prunus avium 'Plena' is a double-flowered form, most often sterile. It is a fast-growing tree, with significant development that will reach 8 to 12 m in height and 8 to 10 m in width. It develops a straight trunk and a regular, semi-open crown, with an oval shape and a narrow top, supported by slightly upright branches. Its thin and shiny bark, initially reddish-brown, tends to peel off in strips. The particularly decorative flowering takes place between April and May, just before the foliage appears. It consists of small clusters of white double, 2-3 cm in diameter flowers, which attract bees. 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 Double-flowered Cherry is deep and powerful, with fairly long running roots capable of producing suckers. This wild cherry tree is often used as a rootstock, especially for limestone soils. And its soft wood is prized in cabinetmaking.

The Double-flowered Cherry 'Plena' can be placed as a solitary tree in a large garden, or in an orchard where its presence will promote good pollination for classic cherry trees. In a natural garden, you can also plant a blackthorn, a juneberry, a mountain ash, a whitebeam, a wild apple tree (Malus sylvestris)...