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.
Grow in any well-drained soil, in full sun to part shade. Adaptable to a wide range of soils.