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Tree · Rosaceae family

Bird cherry

Prunus padus

Full sun to part shade in a garden 4–6 m × 2.5–4 m Flowers May to −40 °C
Flower colours Click a colour

In short a 10-second read

SunFull sun to part shade
in a garden after 10 years4–6 m
in the wild up to 15 m
spacing 6 m
FlowersMay
PlantingMarch–April, October–November
WinterNo winter protection

Where to plant and how much to water

Sun, soil and water.

It grows best in full sun to part shade, in average to moist soil.

Sun

Sun6 hours or more
Part shade3–6 hours
Shadeunder 3 h

Soil

acidic to neutral soil
acidicneutralalkaline
average to moistloamyhumus-richclay

Watering

regularly until establishedat the base, not on the leavesless when it rains

Frost

−40 °C
no winter protectionleafless in winter

How much space it takes

Mature size.

The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).

1 m2 m3 m4 m5 m6 m7 m8 m9 m10 m11 m12 m13 m14 m15 m10–15 mspread 6–10 m
10–15 m× spread 6–10 m

Plant 6 m apart.

Reaches maturity in about 20–50 years. The final size depends on the cultivar and the spot — we give the range from smallest to largest.

Calendar

Through the year.

Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.

The year at a glance

Flowers: JanuaryFlowers: FebruaryFlowers: MarchFlowers: AprilFlowers: MayFlowers: JuneFlowers: JulyFlowers: AugustFlowers: SeptemberFlowers: OctoberFlowers: NovemberFlowers: DecemberPlanting: JanuaryPlanting: FebruaryPlanting: MarchPlanting: AprilPlanting: MayPlanting: JunePlanting: JulyPlanting: AugustPlanting: SeptemberPlanting: OctoberPlanting: NovemberPlanting: DecemberFeeding: JanuaryFeeding: FebruaryFeeding: MarchFeeding: AprilFeeding: MayFeeding: JuneFeeding: JulyFeeding: AugustFeeding: SeptemberFeeding: OctoberFeeding: NovemberFeeding: DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FlowersPlantingFeeding
Now, in October: a good time for planting (container plant, bare-root, root-balled).
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Flowers

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May · white

Planting

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

container plant: March–April, October–November; bare-root: March–April, October–November; root-balled: March–April, October–November

Feeding

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

May–June

Feeding

Nutrition.

Horn meal

up to 55 g/m² a year, if the soil needs it · May–June

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Pests and diseases

Common problems and what to do.

The most common problems in Central Europe. Protection is listed from the gentlest option.

What you will see

Red-purple spots on leaves, later brown with the centres falling out; leaves turn yellow and drop prematurely.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove fallen overwintering leaves.
  2. By hand before bud breakRemove overwintering leaves.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helpsA product authorised in your country against cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella) (as per the label; only if the other steps are not enough).
Cherry leaf spotdisease

What you will see

Red-purple spots on leaves, later brown with the centres falling out; leaves turn yellow and drop prematurely.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Remove fallen overwintering leaves.
  2. By hand before bud breakRemove overwintering leaves.
  3. Chemical — only when nothing else helpsA product authorised in your country against cherry leaf spot (Blumeriella) (as per the label; only if the other steps are not enough).
More about this problem

What you will see

Colonies of aphids on shoots and the undersides of leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check plants at least twice a week during fast growth.
  2. By hand early morningWash aphids off with a strong jet of water; remove badly infested curled shoots.
  3. BiologicalEncourage ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings; limit ants, which protect aphids.
  4. Gentle spray repeat as neededInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil, thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves.
Aphidspest

What you will see

Colonies of aphids on shoots and the undersides of leaves, sticky honeydew and sooty mould.

How to protect

  1. Prevention
    • Check plants at least twice a week during fast growth.
  2. By hand early morningWash aphids off with a strong jet of water; remove badly infested curled shoots.
  3. BiologicalEncourage ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings; limit ants, which protect aphids.
  4. Gentle spray repeat as neededInsecticidal soap or horticultural oil, thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves.
More about this problem

Tent caterpillars

pest

What you will see

Web nests at the ends of branches; caterpillars may strip the leaves.

How to protect

  1. By hand spring – JuneCut out nests with caterpillars and dispose of them.
  2. Biological springA product based on Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.
Tent caterpillarspest

What you will see

Web nests at the ends of branches; caterpillars may strip the leaves.

How to protect

  1. By hand spring – JuneCut out nests with caterpillars and dispose of them.
  2. Biological springA product based on Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki.
Sources (3)

Frequently asked

Quick answers.

When does bird cherry flower?

In May; the flowers are white.

Does bird cherry tolerate shade?

It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.

How much space does bird cherry need?

At maturity 6–10 m wide and 10–15 m tall; recommended spacing 6 m.

Cherry leaf spot — what can you do?

Remove fallen overwintering leaves. Remove overwintering leaves.

Aphids — what can you do?

Check plants at least twice a week during fast growth. Wash aphids off with a strong jet of water; remove badly infested curled shoots.

Sources (17) Checked 24 October 2026

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