Description
Prunus avium – Bird Cherry
Quality: 1/1 P 80-120
Brief Description: The Bird Cherry is the quintessential herald of spring: in April, it transforms into a cloud of white blossoms – a prime bee magnet and an incomparable sight. In early summer, ripe sweet cherries attract birds and small mammals, and in autumn, its foliage glows in vibrant orange-red. As a native forest tree, it is ecologically first-class and the ancestor of all sweet cherry varieties.
Climatic Properties & Site Conditions: The Bird Cherry is native throughout Southern Germany and exceptionally adaptable – from the Rhine plain to mountainous regions over 1,000 m. It prefers fresh, nutrient-rich, and well-drained soils; it does not tolerate waterlogging. In warm locations, it is drought-tolerant once established. A potential issue in some regions: late frosts can damage the early blossoms.
Advantages: Early, abundant bee pasture, native and ecologically valuable, fruits as wild bird food, beautiful autumn foliage, valuable timber, fast growth.
Disadvantages: Blossoms sensitive to late frost, no waterlogging, relatively short-lived (60–80 years), cherry fruit fly and Monilia fungus can infest fruits, root suckers can be disruptive, not suitable for very dry calcareous sites.
