Skip navigation

Bird cherry

An attrative tree of northern parts, so named because the birds love the bitter fruits so much.

What other names does it have?

Can also be known as	Black dogwood Black merry Hagberry
Generic name	Cherry
Latin name	Prunus padus
Family name	Rose
Latin family name	Rosaceae

What type of tree is it?

Is it a broadleaf or conifer?	It is a broadleaf
Does it lose its leaves in autumn?	Yes, it is deciduous

Species description:

Average height	7-10m

Leaf

Description	Hairless except for the tufts under the vein joints. Leaf edges have fine, sharp serrations
Shape	Oval
Colour	Dull green
Colour of leaves in autumn	Dull green
Leaf bud	Pointed 1cm long brown buds
Leaf stalk	Long stalk
Leaf arrangement	Alternate

Flower, seed, and fruit

Type of flower	Multiple flowers in spike
Flower size	1cm
Flowering season	Late spring
Tree/flower sex	Both sexes
Fruit colour	Black
Type of seed body	Berry
Seeds dispersed by	Wildlife

Bark and twig

Bark description	Dull grey in colour and slightly roughened to the touch
Twig Description	Dull deep green/brown with pale markings. Shoots are hairy when young and lose this with age

What other trees are similar?

Can easily be confused with?	Wild cherry - this had large coarse teeth on the leaves and red fruit

Where is it usually found?

Is it native or non-native to the British Isles?	Native
Where is its natural range?	Scotland, parts of Ireland and northern Britain to Derbyshire. There are odd populations in Norfolk thought to be native but it is thought to have been introduced across the rest of southern England
Preferred soil type or environmental conditions?	Prefers limestone but will grow on poor soils. Needs full sun to flower
What is its British conservation status?	Rare

Additional information

Is any part of the tree poisonous?	The foliage is toxic to livestock, especially goats
Tree lore and folklore	In some parts of Yorkshire it is called 'wild lilac' because of the spikes of white flowers in spring

Bird cherry - flowers, leaves, fruit

Bird cherry - leaf

Illustrations supplied by
Collins

BritishTrees

©2012 The Woodland Trust