categoryZTrees Trees List 
categoryZDeciduous Deciduous List 
categoryZBrooadleaf Broadleaf List 

WILD CHERRY

GEAN

Prunus avium

Rose Family [Rosaceae]

Flowers:
month8mar month8march month8apr month8april month8may

Berries: berryZpossible        berryZgreen berryZorange berryZred berryZblack berryZyellow  (edible [cooked], often red)
berry8jul berry8july berry8aug berry8sep berry8sept

category
category8Trees
category
category8Deciduous
category
category8Broadleaf
status
statusZnative
flower
flower8white
inner
inner8yellow
morph
morph8actino
petals
petalsZ5
stem
stem8round

3rd May 2010, River Irwell, Prestwich. Photo: © RWD
Tall tree, up to 30m.


20th April 2011, Fishermans Path, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
White flowers appear early, in March, and last until May. They hand downwards on longish drooping stalks.


20th April 2011, Fishermans Path, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
Flowers have five white petals and over a dozen long stamens.


20th April 2011, Fishermans Path, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
The rear of the flower has five sepals, folded backwards away from the flower.


20th April 2011, Fishermans Path, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
Five cupped and large white petals, often slightly notched in centre. Flowers 15 - 25mm across.


3rd May 2010, River Irwell, Prestwich. Photo: © RWD
Reddish sepals reflexed backwards. Over a dozen stamens bear cream-coloured pollen.


20th April 2011, Fishermans Path, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
Leaves pointed and oval; often coppery as here and turning pink to reddish-purple in autumn. Numerous teeth, bluntly rounded and irregular.


3rd May 2010, River Irwell, Prestwich. Photo: © RWD
Leaves, irregularly and bluntly toothed, have a coppery sheen.


16th July 2015, Harmondsworth Moor, Middx. Photo: © Sue Kitt
The fruits hang down in a long and curving stalk.


16th July 2015, Harmondsworth Moor, Middx. Photo: © Sue Kitt
The fruits are delicious when ripe (black) and made into jam.


20th April 2011, Fishermans Path, Sefton Coast. Photo: © RWD
Bark shiny and reddish-brown, slightly peeling.


3rd May 2010, River Irwell, Prestwich. Photo: © RWD
The bole of an older tree,


Not to be confused with : Hybrid Geum ([a plant with similar name]

Some similarities to : Bird Cherry, Rum Cherry, St. Lucie's Cherry, Dwarf Cherry, Bullace and Cherry Plum.

Lookee-Likees : Bird Cherry

The berries are usually red, but sometimes yellow or, like those of Bird Cherry, black. A good jam can be made from them but the berries are only edible after cooking. All parts of the plant contain poisonous Cyanogenic Glycosides, apart from the berries when they are fully ripe.


  Prunus avium  ⇐ Global Aspect ⇒ Rosaceae  

Distribution
 family8Rose family8Rosaceae
 BSBI maps
genus8Prunus
Prunus
(Cherries)

WILD CHERRY

GEAN

Prunus avium

Rose Family [Rosaceae]

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