Wild Cherry (Sweet Cherry)
Prunus avium · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Fruit, Flowering, Forest Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Prunus avium (Wild variety/species)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 4 through 8; adaptable to temperate climates but sensitive to extreme late spring frosts.
About This Tree
A medium to large fast-growing tree with a broadly conical to rounded crown. It features an open branching structure and produces conspicuous white flowers in clusters. The fruit is a drupe that turns dari red-purple when ripe.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, ovate-oblong leaves, 6-15 cm long with serrated margins and two small red glands on the petiole near the leaf base. Deep green in summer, turning orange-red in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Distinctive shiny, reddish-brown bark with prominent horizontal lenticels (breathing pores); bark often peels in thin horizontal strips on older specimens.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Native to Europe, Western Asia, and North Africa; naturalized in North America
Growing Season
Leafs out and flowers in mid-spring (April-May); fruits ripen in mid-summer; enters dormancy in late autumn with yellow to red leaf changes.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun for best fruit and flower production; moderate water needs; prefers well-drained, moist, loamy soils; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Height of 15-25 meters, spread of 8-15 meters; fast growth rate when young; lifespan of 60-100 years.
Special Characteristics
Known for attractive spring blossoms and valuable hardwood timber used in high-end cabinetry; susceptibility to bacterial canker and aphids.
Wildlife & Ecology
Extremely high ecological value; blossoms provide nectar for bees and pollinators; fruit is a major food source for birds and mammals; serves as a larval host for several Lepidoptera species.