# bird cherry (*Prunus padus*) The bird cherry tree is a lovely tree that grows small, sweet cherries. It has beautiful white flowers in spring that attract bees and butterflies, making it a favorite in gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 2 - **Habitat:** Forests ![bird cherry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bird_cherry_tree_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Игоревич, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bird_cherry_tree_1.jpg) ## Appearance The bird cherry has numerous white, five-petaled flowers hanging in long, fragrant clusters. Its small, round fruits mature from red to glossy black. The bright green leaves are finely toothed and slightly glossy, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Prunus ## Interesting facts - Historically, its tough wood was sometimes used to make bows and tool handles! - Its stunning white flowers are sometimes called 'May Day trees' in parts of Europe! - Scratch its bark gently to smell a distinct almond-like fragrance! - The small, shiny black cherries look like tiny polished beads hanging from the branches! ## Special abilities - **Scented Welcome Mat:** Bird cherry can release a powerful, sweet fragrance to attract many busy insect pollinators from far away. - **Bird Buffet:** It provides abundant small, dark cherries that are a vital food source for many bird species, helping them thrive. - **Tough Roots:** Bird cherry has a strong root system allowing it to grow in poor soils and wet areas where other trees struggle. - **Chemical Shield:** Its bark and leaves contain compounds that give them a bitter taste, discouraging some hungry plant-eaters. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 800-1500 cm - **Spread:** 600-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-1.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Mild - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Relies on its small, dark cherries for food. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Visits fragrant flowers to collect nectar and pollen. - **Eaten by:** Bird-cherry Ermine Moth (*Yponomeuta evonymella*) — Its caterpillars feed on the leaves. - **Shelter:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Often builds its nest among the branches. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Do not eat the cherries without asking an adult first, as they can be sour! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify bird cherry? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is bird cherry? 800-1500 cm ### How wide does bird cherry spread? 600-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on bird cherry? 1-1.5 cm ### When does bird cherry bloom? Spring ### Is bird cherry edible? Yes ### Is bird cherry toxic? Mild ### What is bird cherry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Illinois Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-street-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Bird Cherry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/bird-cherry)