CVNI : Tree Nursery : Tree Descriptions : Bird Cherry

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Bird Cherry - Prunus padus

Bird Cherry flowers

Irish name - Donnroisc
Ulster Scots name - Hagberry
Snowy Mespil, Apples, Pear family - Rosaceae

Characteristics

  • Bird cherry ranges in height from 3 to 15m.
  • Young trees are conical, becoming rounder with drooping branches when mature.
  • The fruit is despite their bitter taste the fruit are eaten by birds, like Robins and Thrushes.
  • This tree is frequently used in traditional wildlife hedges.

Season

  • Bird cherry produces masses of creamy white almond-scented blossoms during May.
  • The fruit ripens in August, but is too sour for us to eat.

Preferred Environment

  • In upland areas, bird cherry is frequently found on acid soils, particularly along valleys.
  • In the lowland it occurs in wet woodlands where ground water contains chalk or limestone.
  • The tree is very hardy but not tolerant of exposure to very strong winds.
  • It casts only a light shade and will not thrive beneath a dense canopy. It can be found in open areas, at the edges of woods, and along streamside’s.

Wildlife Associations

  • Bird cherry attracts butterflies, bees, many insects, and a variety of birds.

Uses

  • Cherry wood is strong, fine-grained, and of a red colour. It is easily worked and can be highly polished.
Silhouette of a Bird Cherry

Please remember...

Permission from the landowner - and, if the site holds any kind of designation, from Northern Ireland Environment Agency too - must be sought before collecting plant material (including seeds).

 
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