Prunus avium

Wild Cherry

Physical Traits & Growth

Typical max. heightiMaximum height in typical conditions, in metres. Full data also shows maximum achievable height in exceptional conditions.:
25m 1
30m 5
Rarely more than 25m 6
32m 7
(except when grown on rootstocks)

Max. canopy widthiLikely maximum horizontal width of the canopy, in metres:
Globular to broad ovoid crown, up to 8m wide 1
At least 8m 2
Domed 3

Size of shadowiSize of shadow based on a fully grown tree, categorised as low, medium or high: Moderate (251 sqm)

Canopy densityiShading intensity of the canopy when in full leaf. Categorised from open to dense.: Moderately dense 1

Leaf emergenceiTime of leaf emergence, categorised as very early, early, late, or evergreen: Early (Apr to Nov 1)

Growth rateiHow quickly the tree grows during establishment. Categorised as low, moderate or high, with very high used in exceptional cases.: Moderate 1 to high 24

LongevityiExpected lifespan of the tree: 100+ years longevity 2, or up to 100 years 8

Management & Systems

Typical systemsiCommon agroforestry or silvicultural systems where this species is used:
Arable or pasture, lowland 1
Arable, pasture and veg systems 5
Commonly used in agroforestry in southern Europe 5

Approach to silvicultureiCoppicing and pollarding ability:
Orchard tree
Coppices poorly 13

Establishment requirementsiCommon requirements to establish the tree:
Establishes easily and grows quickly 16, but sensitive to weed competition 6
Formative pruning for fruit production 11

Management requirementsiCommon long-term management needs such as pruning. Categorised as low, moderate or high.:
Minimal pruning 1
High pruning required for timber 2 to at least 5m in summer 3

Pruning timeiOptimal season for pruning: Summer 1

Prunus avium Bayerischer Wald/ Konrad Lackerbeck/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5/deed.en

Products & Economy

Food productsiCommon food products such as fruits and nuts: Fruits 2

Wood productsiCommon wood products, including timber, turnery, and pulp:
High-value timber 2
Max YC 12 4, typically 6-10 2
Rot may set in before tree reaches sawlog sizes 2

BiomassiCommon biomass products such as fuelwood: –

Speciality productsiOther speciality and niche products: –

Time until market (food)iNumber of years until the tree produces food products: 2-4 years 10 or 5-6 years 6

Time until market (timber)iNumber of years until the tree produces wood products:
Rotation of 40-65 years for timber 6, or 50-80 years 8
Liable to windthrow and heartrot after 60 years 6

Ecology & Utility

Nutrient and organic matter accumulationiRough estimate of soil-improving properties, with larger and deeper-rooting trees predicted to have higher value. Categorised as low, moderate or high.: Moderate – moderate root depth and canopy area

Nitrogen fixationiNitrogen-fixing properties, categorised as yes or no: No

High carbon sequestrationiAll trees sequester carbon, but faster-growing, larger trees generally have higher sequestration potential.:
Short-term (20 years): High
Medium-term (40 years): High
Long-term (60 years): High

Native status in the UKiCategorised as native, long-established, or recent introduction.: Native 1

High wildlife valueiMost trees are likely to be of some value to wildlife, but some trees are of generally higher value to various wildlife groups:
Moderate 5
Highest value for fruits and seeds 5

Pollinators

Flowering period (pollinator benefit)iTypical flowering months: Apr-May 1

High pollen and nectar value for pollinatorsiValue of flowers to pollinators: Moderate to high 1

Susceptibility & Risks

Risk of toxicity to livestockiReported potential toxicity to livestock, categorised as yes or no. Toxicity is complex and often context-specific.: Risk of toxicity 18

Risks to farming operationsiOther risks such as suckering roots, very large tree size, secondary host for aphids, and flammability:
Root suckers 24
Risk of suppressing growth of various other plants, including potatoes, wheat, and plum 5

Disease susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to diseases, e.g. fungal and bacterial disease:
Moderate, less badly affected as other fruit trees 13
Bacterial cankers, silver leaf if pruned at wrong time 3
Orchard cherries much more susceptible because of limited genetic variation 5
Cherry leaf spot, bacterial canker, silver leaf disease, virus diseases 5
Susceptible to peach leaf curl, silver leaf, bacterial canker, blossom wilt and honey fungus 6
Future risk of Xylella fastidiosa 6

Invertebrate pest susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to invertebrate pests, e.g. aphids and other insects:
Moderate to high
Cherry blackfly 513
May be susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, leaf-mining moths 6

Vertebrate damage susceptibilityiSusceptibility of the tree (not tree products) to vertebrate pests, e.g. squirrels and deer:
Moderate
Moderate sensitivity to browsing 7, moderate palatability 8
Susceptible to damage from deer but not squirrels 5
Fruits vulnerable to damage from Bullfinches 613