ExploreTree

Cherry Tree

Prunus avium

Cherry Trees are famous for their sweet cherries and beautiful pink flowers! They are a favorite in gardens.

Habitat: Gardens and orchards

Appearance

The Cherry Tree has smooth, reddish-brown bark that darkens with age, and oval green leaves with finely toothed edges. In spring, it bursts with delicate white or pink blossoms, later producing small, shiny red or dark purple fruits that hang in clusters.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusPrunus

Cherry Tree

Interesting facts

Cherry wood is highly prized for making musical instruments and fancy furniture.

It takes about 2,000 cherries to make one cherry pie – that's a lot of picking!

Some cherry trees are grown just for their beautiful flowers, not their fruit!

The world's largest cherry pie was over 14 feet wide and weighed almost 38,000 pounds!

Special abilities

Cherry Trees can produce abundant, fragrant blossoms that act like a colorful sign, guiding bees and other insects to help with pollination.

Cherry Trees have juicy, edible fruits that attract birds, who eat them and then help spread the seeds far away to grow new trees.

Cherry Trees can grow and produce their first delicious fruits within just a few years, ensuring they can reproduce relatively quickly.

Cherry Trees have a clever ability to drop all their leaves in autumn, allowing them to rest and survive through cold, harsh winter conditions.

Measurements & details

Height: 4-20 m
Canopy Spread: 3-15 m
Is Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 30-100 cm
Lifespan: 20-50 years
Fruit Type: Drupe
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

Collects nectar and pollen, aiding reproduction.

eaten by

American Robin

Turdus migratorius

Eats ripe cherries, helping to disperse the seeds.

depends on

Western Cherry Fruit Fly

Rhagoletis indifferens

Larvae feed inside developing cherries.

parasitizes

Brown Rot Fungus

Monilinia fructicola

Causes disease in flowers and fruit.

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Shade Tolerant

Discover plants that love to live in the shadows, growing beautifully and happily even in spots where the sun doesn't shine all day long.

Spring Blooming

Celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with these cheerful plants that burst into beautiful flowers as spring awakens the world.

Fruit Bearing

These amazing plants develop fruits, which often contain seeds and are sometimes delicious treats for us or wildlife. They're nature's way of spreading new life!

Fruit Tree

Discover trees that grow delicious fruits, providing a natural bounty of snacks for people and animals alike. Imagine picking an apple right from the branch!

Edible

Find plants that are safe and delicious to eat, offering tasty treats and nourishment from nature's pantry. Always check with an adult before tasting!