Botanical Name: Prunus padus
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Common Name: European Birdcherry  
Plant photo of: Prunus padus
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Water Saving Tip:

Even though it's hot, your lawn only needs to be watered twice a week to stay healthy.

And don't water the whole lawn for a brown spot—drag out a hose.

  • Anatomy

  • Culture

  • Design

Plant Type

Tree

 

Height Range

12-25', 25-40'

 

Flower Color

White

 

Flower Season

Spring

 

Leaf Color

Green

 

Bark Color

Brown, Grey

 

Fruit Color

Black

 

Fruit Season

Summer

Information by: Stephanie Duer
Photographer: wrong photo

  • Description

  • Notes

Bird cherry is a deciduous ornamental tree that typically grows 20 to 40 feet tall and wide, with a rounded, dense crown. Fragrant white flowers in pendulous 3 to 6-inch long clusters appear after the foliage emerges in spring. Flowers are followed by astringent, pea-sized, black cherries which ripen in mid-summer. As with the closely-related chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), the fruit is extremely bitter to humans but loved by birds. Dull dark green leaves are elliptic and lightly serrated; foliage turns yellow in fall.