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Prunus avium

Prunus Avium

Common names: Wild Cherry  

Irish name: Gean – crann silíní fiáin 

Latin name: Prunus avium 

Family: Rosaceae 

Origin: Native 

Tree type: Deciduous broadleaf tree

How it Looks

Shape, bark, twigs 

The tree can grow to 30m in height. The bark displays a purple-grey hue, shiny, with a peeling texture and noticeable horizontal lines. 

Buds 

The buds are arranged alternately along the stem, are light brown and oval in shape, and typically measure 5-8 mm. They can sometimes cluster together, with about ten scales on each bud. 

Leaves 

The leaves are also positioned alternately along the stem. They are oval with pointed tips, have double-toothed edges, and typically range in size from 6 to 15 cm. They are hairless above, downy underneath, and have two red glands on the stalk (petiole) at the leaf base. During the summer, the leaves are green, but in autumn, they transition to shades of orange and deep crimson.  

Flowers 

The wild cherry tree is hermaphroditic, meaning it bears both male and female reproductive parts within the same flower. Its white blossoms typically emerge from April to May, with each flower having an individual stalk and hanging in clusters of two to six. All flowers have five petals, are cup-shaped and measure 8–15mm across. Insects are responsible for pollinating these flowers.  

Fruits 

Following pollination by insects, the flowers mature into hairless, deep-red, globular fruits that are approximately 10 mm in size. The Latin name "avium" references birds, which consume the cherries and aid in seed dispersal. This tree species propagates through both seed dispersal and the growth of suckers.  

Similar species 

Bird Cherry Wild cherry (Prunus Padus), sour cherry (Prunus cerasus). Wild cherry fruits are on longer stalks.  

 

Where to Find It

Wild cherry is very common in the east of Ireland and has scattered populations in the west. It is a lowland species only growing to elevations of 300m above sea level. It’s often found in hedgerows and on the edges of mixed deciduous woodland. Moreover, it is frequently cultivated for ornamental or fruit-bearing purposes in parks, gardens, and orchards.  

Wild cherry trees are characterised by their rapid growth and a preference for well-lit environments. They thrive in deep, moist, and well-drained soils, ranging from acidic to calcareous compositions. However, they do not tolerate heavy clay soils, waterlogged conditions, or poorly drained sites, and they can be sensitive to drought.  

This tree species is also native to the United Kingdom and various parts of Europe, except for the northernmost regions.

Cultural Importance

History | Myth, Legend and Folklore

History

Archaeological excavations of a Bronze Age (c. 2500-800 BC) post and wattle fence in Islandbridge, County Dublin demonstrate that wild cherry amongst other wood types were being used during this period to consolidate such structures. It was also commonly used for its fruit, as attested by the discovery of wild cherry stones at various archaeological sites, including the Late Bronze Age Crannóg at Ballinderry, County Offaly.  

Wild cherry stones found in early Medieval (c. 400-1000 AD) contexts during the excavation of an area around Talbot’s Tower - part of the medieval defensive town walls of Kilkenny - indicate that people were also consuming wild cherry during this period. Wild cherry is included in the early Irish tree lists as one of the ‘Commoners of the Wood’. These trees were deemed so valuable that if a person unlawfully damaged a Commoner of the Wood, they would be required to pay a penalty fine equivalent to one milch cow. If they destroyed it completely, they would be fined a payment of two milch cows and a three-year-old heifer. 

Excavations at various archaeological sites around Ireland, such as those carried out in Cork city, reveal that wild cherry, amongst other fruits, was also a significant part of the late Medieval (c. 1100-1600 AD) diet in Ireland.  

Historically, cherry trees were cultivated for both their delicious fruit and their wood, which had various practical applications. Cherry wood was valued for crafting cask hoops and vine poles. Cherry trees were also sometimes planted as hedgerow trees. Additionally, the sticky resin from these trees was believed to have cosmetic and medicinal properties, promoting clear complexions, improved eyesight, and aiding in the treatment of coughs. 

In contrast to the majority of native trees, the Irish name for wild cherry, only survives in one historic placename – Cahernashilleeny or Cathair na Silíní, in County Galway, which translates as ‘the stone fort of the cherries’, Co. Galway. However, it has been used more recently in modern day housing developments, such as Cherrywood or Coill na Silíní in County Dublin. 

Myth, Legend and Folklore 

Wild cherry is typically associated with the qualities of youthfulness, beauty, fertility and love. Many characters in the Irish myths go by the old Irish name for wild cherry, Idath, and its later name, Fidach. In both cases, the character bearing the name is almost always described as beautiful, handsome or youthful. Niall Mac Coitir suggests that all the mythological stories featuring these characters appear to link the cherry tree to the story of Aoghus, the God of love, in which a youthful man is challenging an older rival for the love of a lady. 

Value to Wildlife

Wild cherry trees offer significant ecological value. During spring, their blossoms serve as an early source of nectar and pollen, benefiting various pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and small birds like blue tits. The cherries produced by these trees are a vital food source for birds, including the blackbird, song thrush, and mistle thrush. Birds play a crucial role in the dispersal and germination of the tree's seeds by consuming them, a characteristic that inspired its Latin name, 'avium', which references birds. Furthermore, mammals like badgers and wood mice also contribute to seed dispersal by consuming fallen fruit. The foliage of wild cherry trees is a primary food source for the caterpillars of numerous moth species, including the cherry fruit and cherry bark moths, the orchard ermine, and brimstone moths.  

 

Threats

Wild cherry faces several threats, including:  

  1. Bacterial Cankers: Wild cherry is susceptible to bacterial cankers, which disfigure and can occasionally kill infected trees. These bacteria live on the leaves and can enter the tree through leaf pores during wet spring or early summer weather. Cankers may also develop when bacterial cells enter through wounds or leaf scars at leaf fall. Infections are dormant in summer and winter but rapidly spread in spring, eventually killing the bark. 
  1. Silver Leaf Disease: Incorrect pruning can make wild cherry trees vulnerable to silver leaf disease. This fungal disease enters through wounds during the cool, wet part of the year, blocking the tree's water-carrying vessels and causing wilting, often resulting in tree death. 
  1. Blossom Wilt: This disease affects the fruit, primarily through wounds, such as bird damage. Infected fruits show symptoms like brown rot and mummification, and they often remain hanging on the tree. They can cause small infections (cankers) when they touch the bark. The fungus overwinters in dead fruit, releasing spores in the spring to infect wounded fruit, perpetuating the disease cycle. 

To learn more about threats to Irish trees, visit ‘Threats to Irish Trees.’  

Uses

In modern times, cherry wood has found its place in the crafting of decorative veneers, furniture and musical instruments. This wood is renowned for its hardness, strength, and honey-coloured appearance, making it an excellent choice for creating polished, glossy brown surfaces. When burned, cherry wood produces a pleasantly fragrant smoke reminiscent of the tree's blossoms.  

The cherries from wild cherry trees are relatively small and challenging to pit, therefore they are often used for infusing beverages to create flavoured brandy or mock amaretto. Furthermore, they are used to prepare preserves such as jams and pickles. The flowers of the wild cherry tree have an almond-like flavour and can be utilised to make syrup.  

References

 

Irish Tree Explorers Network

Líonra Taiscéalaí Crainn na hÉireann

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