Bird Cherry

How to grow Bird Cherry

Written by the GardenDecoded editorial team · Last reviewed 21 July 2026 · Written for UK gardens · How we research our guidance

Planting

Plant bare-root in winter in an open sunny position. It grows large and suckers from the roots, so give it space and keep it away from lawns and paving. Dwarfing rootstocks are used for garden fruiting cherries; the true species is a full-size woodland tree.

Pruning

Prune only between late spring and mid-summer, when the tree is in active growth — winter pruning of any Prunus invites silver leaf and bacterial canker. Keep cuts to a minimum.

Propagation

Sow cleaned stones in autumn outdoors; germination follows the winter cold, though it can take until the second spring.

Pests and diseases

Silver leaf shows as a silvery sheen on foliage and dieback of affected branches. Bacterial canker causes sunken oozing patches on the bark and shot holes in the leaves. Both are the reason for the summer-only pruning rule.

Value to wildlife

Excellent. Early white blossom is a major nectar source, and the small red-black cherries are stripped by blackbirds, thrushes and starlings almost as soon as they ripen.

Notes

Good orange-red autumn colour and a distinctive glossy banded bark. Expect the birds to take the fruit before you do — netting a tree this size is not practical.

This guidance was researched and written by GardenDecoded — see our editorial policy for how guides are checked and reviewed.

Other names for this plant

These names have all been used for Prunus avium but are no longer the accepted name. You may still meet them on old labels, in books, or in nursery catalogues.

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