{"slug":"prunus-avium","scientific_name":"Prunus avium","common_names":["Wild cherry","Gean","Sweet cherry"],"family":"Rosaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":20,"mature_spread_m":10,"growth_rate":"fast","lifespan_years":60,"hardiness_zones":[3,8],"sun":"full","water":"medium","soil":"Deep, fertile, well-drained loam; dislikes waterlogging and very acid soil","native_range":"Native through most of Europe including Britain and Ireland, to North Africa, Türkiye, the Caucasus and northern Iran; widely naturalised elsewhere.","description":"A fast-growing tree of up to 30 m with masses of white blossom in April, red summer cherries loved by birds and badgers, and fiery autumn colour. It spreads by root suckers to form groups. Popular as a garden and street tree and planted for timber and in new native woodland, though it is relatively short-lived at around 60 years.","care":"Plant in autumn or winter; stake and water for two summers. Prune only in midsummer (June to August) to avoid silver leaf disease and bacterial canker, both of which can kill trees. Cherry blackfly curls young leaves in spring. Remove unwanted suckers.","benefits":["flowers","pollinators","birds","wildlife","fall_color","edible","fast_canopy"],"uses":["yard_shade","parks","timber","reforestation","food"],"cautions":["short_lived","messy_fruit","pest_prone"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/49/Prunus_avium_fruit.jpg","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Prunus_avium_fruit.jpg (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/wild-cherry/","https://www.gbif.org/species/3020791","https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=286442","https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-avium/"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/prunus-avium","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/prunus-avium.md","regions":[{"country":"DE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3020791"},{"country":"FR","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3020791"},{"country":"GB","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/british-trees/a-z-of-british-trees/wild-cherry/"},{"country":"IE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3020791"},{"country":"AU","region":"NSW","locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3020791"},{"country":"NZ","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/3020791"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}