# Cherry-plum (*Prunus cerasifera*) The cherry-plum tree is a lovely tree that produces small, sweet fruits. Its beautiful pink flowers bloom in spring, making it a favorite for gardens and parks. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas - **Also known as:** Myrobalan Plum ![Cherry-plum](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/20140317Prunus_cerasifera_Hockenheimer_Rheinbogen5.jpg&width=800) Photo: AnRo0002, CC0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20140317Prunus_cerasifera_Hockenheimer_Rheinbogen5.jpg) ## Appearance The Cherry-plum has an early display of delicate white or pale pink blossoms that often appear before its oval leaves in early spring. Its small, round fruits can ripen to a cheerful red, yellow, or deep purple, often hanging abundantly from its branches. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Prunus ## Interesting facts - Birds gobble its tiny, sweet plums, helping to spread seeds far and wide! - It's often the very first tree to burst into bloom in spring! - Its fruits are super variable; some trees grow red, others yellow or purple! - People have been cultivating Cherry-plums since ancient Roman times! ## Special abilities - **Early Bloom Power:** Cherry-plum can bloom before leaves emerge, attracting early pollinators like bees when other food is scarce. - **Pioneer Spirit:** It can quickly colonize disturbed land with its strong root system, helping new forests to grow. - **Root Resilience:** Cherry-plum has hardy roots often used as a strong base for grafting other plum varieties. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 600-1500 cm - **Spread:** 400-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 1.5-2.5 cm - **Bloom Season:** Early spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** European honey bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Helps pollinate early blossoms. - **Eaten by:** [Common blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Feeds on ripe fruits, spreading seeds. - **Parasitizes:** Plum fruit moth (*Cydia funebrana*) — Larvae burrow into and damage its fruits. - **Parasitizes:** Plum fruit weevil (*Rhynchites auratus*) — Weevil larvae feed inside the developing fruit. ## 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. - [Fruit Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-tree): A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals. - [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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always ask an adult before picking or eating fruits from trees. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cherry-plum? 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 Cherry-plum? 600-1500 cm ### How wide does Cherry-plum spread? 400-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on Cherry-plum? 1.5-2.5 cm ### When does Cherry-plum bloom? Early spring ### Is Cherry-plum edible? Yes ### Is Cherry-plum toxic? None ### What is Cherry-plum's lifecycle? Perennial ## 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: [Cherry-plum: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cherry-plum)