Tree · Rosaceae family
cherry plum
Prunus cerasifera
In short a 10-second read
Cherry plum (tree) grows to 6–8 m tall and 5–7 m wide when mature. It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. It flowers in March–April; the flowers are white or pink. Hardy to −29 °C.
× spread 5–7 m
Where to plant
Sun, soil, frost.
It grows best in full sun to part shade, in dry to average soil. Hardy to −29 °C.
Sun
Tolerates several positions — choose to suit the rest of the garden.
Soil and water
dry to average · watering: moderate
Soil: loamy, clay, sandy
Frost
It copes with a normal winter outdoors.
How much space it takes
Mature size.
The mature plant next to a person (175 cm).
Next to a person
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
What to do and when.
Months for Central Europe. The line shows the current month.
The year at a glance
Flowers
March–April · white or pink
Pruning
No pruning needed — just remove dead or damaged parts (June–August).
Planting
container plant: October–April; bare-root: October–March; root-balled: October–March
Winter protection
not needed
Overwintering
It copes with winter on its own.
It overwinters outdoors without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
- Needs no protection
- Hardy to −29 °C
- Deciduous — bare in winter
Frequently asked
Quick answers.
When does cherry plum flower?
In March–April; the flowers are white or pink.
Does cherry plum tolerate shade?
It tolerates part shade (3–6 hours of sun), but not full shade.
How much space does cherry plum need?
At maturity 5–7 m wide and 6–8 m tall; recommended spacing 500 cm.
Does cherry plum survive winter outdoors?
Yes, without protection, hardy to −29 °C.
Where the data comes from
The data is indicative — we are still comparing it with further sources. Last checked 17 October 2026.
Show sources (16)
- Slov-lex — nariadenie vlády SR č. 449/2019 Z. z.
- Pergl J. et al. (2016) Black, Grey and Watch Lists of alien species in the Czech Republic, NeoBiota 28 — Appendix
- Nehring S. et al. (2013) BfN-Skripten 352 — Schwarze/Graue Liste
- GBIF — Prunus cerasifera
- Okrasná školka Peňáz, Bošovice (CZ) — sortiment stromov
- NC State Extension Plant Toolbox
- Van den Berk
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy (species/match)
- Wikipedia (EN)
- RHS - Watering
- RHS - Prunus cerasifera
- RHS - Shrubs and trees: light pruning
- RHS - Silver leaf
- RHS - Trees and shrubs: planting
- Clemson HGIC - Planting Trees Correctly
- RHS - How to grow trees
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