Bird cherry
4
3
2Will it grow where I live?
Bird cherry is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
Or check it for your location right here:
Profile
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Habit
- Tree
- Height
- 15 m
- Spread
- 8 m
- Growth
- very fast
- Lifespan
- 80 years
- First yield
- after 5 years
- Hardiness
- zone 3–7
- Shade tolerance
- full shade
- Soil
- Sand, Silt, Loam
- Soil moisture
- semi-dry – very moist
- pH
- 5.5 – 7.5
Flowering & harvest
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flowering |
Uses
⚠️ Hazards
Toxic kernels and leaves, toxic to dogs, cats and horses As in all Prunus species, the seeds, leaves and bark contain cyanogenic glycosides that release hydrogen cyanide when chewed or crushed. A single intact stone swallowed by accident is harmless, larger quantities of chewed kernels are not, and home-made kernel extracts are best avoided. The same plant parts are considered toxic to dogs, cats and horses. The flesh of the fruit itself is harmless. The gum that exudes from wounds indicates pruning at the wrong time of year, not a hazard.
Frequently asked questions
Bird cherry: how big does it get?
Bird cherry (Prunus padus) grows as a Tree and reaches roughly 15 m in height when mature, with a spread of about 8 m. Growth is very fast.
Bird cherry: what site does it need?
Bird cherry tolerates full shade. Suitable soils are Sand, Silt, Loam. Soil moisture should be in the range semi-dry – very moist. The pH may lie between 5.5 and 7.5.
Bird cherry: is it hardy?
Bird cherry is listed as hardy in zone 3–7 and survives normal winters outdoors there.
Bird cherry: will it grow in Central Europe?
Bird cherry is hardy to zone 3 – that covers all of Central Europe and the British Isles, and every USDA zone from 3 upwards.
Bird cherry: when does it flower?
In a temperate northern-hemisphere climate it flowers in May.
Bird cherry: is it poisonous?
No toxicity is recorded for Bird cherry. With wild plants, never rely on a database alone — only on a confident identification.
Bird cherry: what is it used for?
Rated on a scale up to 10: Edible 4/10, Medicinal 3/10, Other uses 2/10.
Plan this plant into your own garden
Permaplans plans your garden to scale on the map — with a site check, harvest calendar and over 1,000 plants. Free for iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows & Linux.
Will this plant grow where you live? → Check your site
Community experience
No first-hand reports for this plant yet.
Growing it? Write in the app what works for you – your post will show up here.
💬 Get the app and join in