Prunus padus

RHS Plant Profile

bird cherry

RHS

Other common names

black dogwood, common bird cherry, eggberry, hagberry, heckberry, hedgeberry, hog cherry, hackberry, ceiriosen yr aderyn

Trees

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A large deciduous tree with toothed, ovate leaves turning yellow in autumn, and pendant racemes of frgrant white flowers 1cm wide in late spring, followed by small, bitter black fruits

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

4-8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: 4-8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or North–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: Yes
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Bushy
Genus: Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Name Status: Correct
Plant Range: Europe, W Asia to Korea and Japan

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed, chip budding or grafting, although softwood cuttings in early summer with bottom heat can also be successful

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildflower meadow
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Prune in mid-summer if silver leaf is a problem

Pests

May be susceptible to damage from aphids, caterpillars and bullfinches

Diseases

May be susceptible to silver leaf, bacterial canker and blossom wilt. High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa