Taxonomy

Prunus avium | Wild Cherry | Crann silíní fiáin

Distribution

Status

Conservation status

Not protected

Native status

Native

Species Biology

Identification

Flowers: April – May; white flowers, sepals strongly bent backwards.

Fruit: Dark red cherry, edible but bitter

Twigs & bark: Twigs red/brown upper surface, pale underneath; bark dark grey/pink, shining

Habitat

Woods and hedges especially on fertile, lime-rich soils

Life cycle

Perennial

Ex-situ conservation

Not known

Use

Food crop

Vegetative nature

Woody

Distribution

World distribution(GBIF)

Irish distribution

Occasional, especially in the eastern half, widely planted

Temporal change

Records submitted to Data Centre in 2024

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Further information

Although native, it is commonly planted throughout the country. The fruits are dark red and bitter but Prunus avium is the cherry species from which most of our sweet cherry tree cultivars are derived.

Like most cherries, the fruits are favoured by the blackbird and thrush