Wild cherry trees (Prunus avium) are a beloved tree species known for their early spring blooms and tasty summer fruits. But what distinguishes a wild cherry tree from other trees? This guide covers the key traits to look for when identifying wild cherry trees in forests fields and landscapes.
Mature Tree Size and Form
Wild cherry trees can grow quite tall, reaching 60-100 feet at maturity. The trees have a narrow, pyramidal shape when young but broaden with age into a rounded, spreading canopy. Mature wild cherry trees typically have
- Height of 60-100 feet
- Rounded, spreading canopy
- Single main trunk
- Some low branches
Unlike forest trees, wild cherry trees develop an open form with one dominant trunk and lower branches when growing in the open. Their rounded canopy spreads nearly as wide as the tree is tall.
Leaves and Leaf Arrangement
The leaves of wild cherry trees are alternately arranged along branches. Each leaf has a distinct oval shape with a tapered tip and small teeth along the edges. Other key features include:
- Alternate leaf arrangement
- Simple, oval shape
- Pointed tip
- Serrated, toothed edges
- Smooth, shiny green upper surface
- Paler green underside
- 4-6 inches long and 2-3 inches wide
- Two red glands on petiole (leaf stem)
The oval leaves have finely toothed margins that end in a sharp point. Their most unique feature is the pair of red glands near the top of the leaf stem.
Flowers and Fruit
Wild cherry trees bloom in spring, with clusters of 5-6 white flowers opening along bare branches. The individual blooms are cup-shaped with five oval petals. After pollination, these spring flowers develop into clusters of vivid red cherries by summer. Key features include:
- White flower clusters with 5-6 blooms
- Flowers open in spring along branches
- Oval petals with rounded tips
- Mature into dangling clusters of red cherries
- Each cherry has one large pit/stone
The spring flowers provide an early nectar source for pollinators before the leaves emerge. Then in summer, birds flock to pluck the ripe cherries.
Bark
The bark of wild cherry trees is quite decorative, making this species popular in landscaping. Young bark starts out smooth with prominent whitish pores known as lenticels arranged in horizontal lines. The bark matures to:
- Smooth with noticeable horizontal lenticels
- Patchy pattern of reddish-brown and creamy white
- Begins shedding scales with age
On younger trunks, the horizontal lenticels are eye-catching. On mature trees, the peeling bark exposes reddish-brown inner bark in an attractive patchwork pattern.
Twigs
Wild cherry tree twigs are slender and reddish-brown in color. They are smooth with small pores dotting the surface. The buds are oval-shaped with a distinctly pointed tip. Other features include:
- Slender, smooth, reddish twigs
- Lenticels on surface
- Pointed oval terminal buds
- Buds arranged in small clusters
Notice the reddish hue and clustered arrangement of the buds on the ends of wild cherry twigs. The oval buds come to a noticeably sharp point.
Where Wild Cherries Grow
Wild cherry trees are native to Europe and Western Asia but have naturalized across North America as well. They prefer:
- Sunny, open locations
- Field/woodland edges
- Moist, well-drained, fertile soil
When looking for wild cherries, seek out woodland borders, hedgerows, and roadsides. Avoid shaded forest interiors and overly damp sites.
Similar Species
Wild cherry trees are often confused with other species in the Prunus genus, including:
- Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
- Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica)
- Cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera)
Compare the bark, leaf shape, flowers, and growth habits to correctly identify wild cherries apart from lookalikes.
When to See Key Features
The identifiable traits of wild cherry trees are visible during different seasons:
- Spring: flowers, young red leaf stems, new leaves
- Summer: green foliage, cherries
- Fall: yellow to red fall leaf color
- Winter: bark, buds, twigs
Quick ID Tips
Here are quick tips for identifying wild cherry trees:
- Oval green leaves with pointed tip and red glands
- White spring flower clusters and summer fruits
- Patchy bark with horizontal lenticels
- Tall, rounded shape with single trunk
Once you learn to recognize their distinctive leaves, flowers, bark pattern, and growth habit, wild cherry trees are easy to distinguish from other species. Their ornamental traits make them a favorite for landscaping, while wildlife relies on these trees for food and shelter. Keep an eye out for wild cherries gracing fields and forest edges with cascades of spring blooms and summer fruits.
How wild cherry is used
Wild cherry can be used as a rootstock to graft a more productive fruit-bearing cherry variety. It can produce high quality timber as it grows with a straight stem, but requires pruning at the right time of year.
Its pinkish-brown wood can be highly polished and is used to make fine furniture, musical instruments, veneers, smoking pipes and is prized for turned items such as bowls.
Wild cherry identification tips
Heading out into the forest? Here are some top things to look out for to help you spot a wild cherry:
- bark: smooth and purplish-brown with a metallic sheen and horizontal bands of lenticels.
- branches: the lower branches spread, but the rest point upwards.
- flowers: have an almond-like scent and sometimes appear before the leaves.
- fruit: small green cherries follow the flowers, and turn red then purple when ripe.
Wild Cherry Tree Identification (Prunus avium) Features and Facts
FAQ
How do I identify a wild cherry tree?
A typical bark of the wild cherry tree is reddish-brown and smooth. It might have horizontal bands, which can peel off. The bark has a lot of ‘lenticels’. These are small pores in the bark, which allow cells below the bark to ‘breathe’.
Are wild cherry tree cherries edible?
Yes, wild cherry tree cherries are generally edible. However, while most wild cherries are safe to eat, their taste can vary from sweet to very tart.
What can be mistaken for a cherry tree?
Cherry trees are often confused with peach and plum trees, but it’s not difficult to identify cherry trees if you know what you’re looking for. It’s easiest to spot a cherry tree in the spring when it is in full bloom, or in midsummer when it is fruiting.
What’s the difference between a cherry and a wild cherry?
The cherries of wild cherry trees are sour and not meant to be aten as they are by humans. Whereas sweet cherries can easier be eaten right off the tree. These cherries are bigger than cherries from whild cherry trees, and they turn almost black as they ripen.
What does a wild cherry tree look like?
The black bark of an established wild cherry is easily visible in the winter months, standing out among the other trees in the woods or fields. The young wild cherry tree possesses bark with horizontal line on it called lenticels. Check the wild cherry tree for its fruit, which ripens to maturity by August.
What is a wild cherry tree?
Wild cherry is a common tree in open fields, according to the Ohio Department of Natural website and a species that grows rapidly. Valued for its fine wood, wild cherry also provides nourishment for wildlife in the form of the fruit it produces. You can look at a wild cherry and identify it as such by knowing what specifics for which to search.
How do you identify a wild cherry?
Look for these key features to distinguish a wild cherry: Wild cherries have distinctive leaves, fruits, bark, and form. Getting familiar with their many identifying traits makes spotting this beautiful species easy. Keep an eye out for wild cherries bringing splashes of white blossoms and bright fruits to woodland edges and fields.
What does a sweet cherry tree look like?
Similar to sweet cherry trees, the bark grows in horizontal layers which develop into patches which are sometimes described as looking like burnt cornflakes. Prunus avium is also known as sweet cherry, and it occurs in the wild as well as in cultivation. These trees can be found in the wild in many areas of the United States and Europe.
What does a cherry tree bark look like?
The bark on this species of wild cherry is light grey and has a cork-like appearance. Similar to sweet cherry trees, the bark grows in horizontal layers which develop into patches which are sometimes described as looking like burnt cornflakes. Prunus avium is also known as sweet cherry, and it occurs in the wild as well as in cultivation.
What do cherry trees look like in spring?
In spring, cherry trees are easy to identify by their pinkish-white blossoms. Here are some of the many types of cherry trees – including their pictures. Also called sweet cherry trees, wild cherries are flowering trees that produce large, sweet juicy cherries. Wild cherry trees have blossoms of single white flowers that bloom in spring.