Bird Cherry
Prunus padus
Also listed as Cerasus padus, Cerasus racemosa
Also known as European Bird Cherry
Climate Match for your location
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A deciduous tree valued for its fragrant white flower clusters in spring and small black cherries that attract birds in summer. Hardy and adaptable, it makes an excellent ornamental and wildlife-friendly specimen for larger gardens.
Why grow it
Bird cherry offers a spring display of fragrant white flowers and summer fruit on a hardy, deciduous tree that tolerates a wide range of soil and climate conditions. Compared to other ornamental cherries, it requires less specialized care and provides reliable wildlife value through its fruit production, making it practical for larger gardens where vigor and self-sufficiency matter more than compact growth habit.
Watch out for
Seedlings and self-sown saplings can establish readily from bird-dispersed seed, particularly in moist conditions; regular inspection and removal of unwanted volunteers helps manage spread in managed landscapes. The dense canopy and allelopathic leaf litter may suppress understory vegetation, which should be considered when planning surrounding plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A deciduous tree valued for its fragrant white flower clusters in spring and small black cherries that attract birds in summer. Hardy and adaptable, it makes an excellent ornamental and wildlife-friendly specimen for larger gardens.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Bird Cherry grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Bird cherry offers a spring display of fragrant white flowers and summer fruit on a hardy, deciduous tree that tolerates a wide range of soil and climate conditions. Compared to other ornamental cherries, it requires less specialized care and provides reliable wildlife value through its fruit production, making it practical for larger gardens where vigor and self-sufficiency matter more than compact growth habit.
Watch out for
Seedlings and self-sown saplings can establish readily from bird-dispersed seed, particularly in moist conditions; regular inspection and removal of unwanted volunteers helps manage spread in managed landscapes. The dense canopy and allelopathic leaf litter may suppress understory vegetation, which should be considered when planning surrounding plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Rosaceae
Native Range
Europe and western Asia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Shrub
Woody multi-stem plants at eye level.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
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