Bird Cherry Plant Care
Padus avium Mill.
Updated · Sources · How we source care data
Prunus padus, known as bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree, is a flowering plant in the rose family. It is a species of cherry, a deciduous small tree or large shrub up to 16 metres (52 ft) tall.
Every 7–14 days
Full sun to partial shade
0–90°F
40–70%
At a glance
How do you care for Bird Cherry?
Plant Bird Cherry in full sun to partial shade and water a young tree every 7–14 days until it is established. It tolerates temperatures of 0–90°F (-18–32°C). Fertilize it every 6 months during the growing season.
Where Is the Bird Cherry Native To?
What Is the Bird Cherry?
Bird Cherry (Padus avium) belongs to the Rosaceae family within the Padus genus. Bird Cherry is native to northern Europe and northern and northeast Asia. Bird Cherry is also known as European Bird Cherry, Wild Cherry.
Bird Cherry displays an upright, spreading tree growth habit, reaching up to 20 ft tall with a spread of approximately 15 ft. Bird Cherry produces small white flowers in dense clusters.
Leaf size: approximately 4 inches.
How Often Should You Water a Bird Cherry?
Water a young or newly planted Bird Cherry every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.
Watering Frequency
Every 7–14 days
Until established; then in dry spells
What Light Does the Bird Cherry Need?
Bird Cherry thrives in full sun to partial shade.
Light Requirement
Full sun to partial shade
What Temperature and Humidity Does the Bird Cherry Prefer?
Padus avium tolerates temperatures of 0–90°F. Bird Cherry prefers humidity levels of 40–70%.
Temperature
0–90°F
Humidity
40–70%
What Soil Mix Works Best for a Bird Cherry?
Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Bird Cherry to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.
How Often Should You Fertilize a Bird Cherry?
Feed Bird Cherry every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.
Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.
Fertilizing
Every 6 months
During the growing season
The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.
Where Should You Plant a Bird Cherry?
Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.
Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.
How Far Apart Should You Plant a Bird Cherry?
Bird Cherry can spread to about 15 ft (4.6 m) and reach about 20 ft (6 m) tall. Space plants about 15 ft (4.6 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.
Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.
How Do You Prune a Bird Cherry?
Prune Bird Cherry while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.
If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.
How Do You Care for a Bird Cherry in Winter?
Water deeply in late autumn before the ground freezes, and spread a 5–8 cm (2–3 in) layer of mulch over the root zone, keeping it away from the trunk.
Young and container-grown trees need extra protection: roots in a pot freeze much more easily than roots in the ground.
How Do You Propagate a Bird Cherry?
Bird Cherry can be propagated through seeds, hardwood cuttings.
Is the Bird Cherry Toxic to Pets and Children?
Pet safety not verified
The ASPCA does not list Bird Cherry, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Keep pets from chewing it as a precaution.
This is a general caution, not veterinary or medical advice. If your pet ate a plant, contact your vet or animal poison control.
See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.
What Pests and Diseases Affect the Bird Cherry?
Bird Cherry is susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, scale insects. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.
Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.
Keep exploring plants
Bird Cherry is one of many species covered in the complete plant care and identification guide, which groups plants by genus, attribute, and popularity.
It belongs to the Padus genus (family Rosaceae) — search all Padus species in the plant lookup.
Bird Cherry thrives in bright light and direct sun — see other bright-light plants.
Related Plant Care Guides
Closely related plants with similar care requirements:
Sources
- Scientific name & taxonomy: Padus avium Mill., family Rosaceae (first published in Gard. Dict. ed. 8 : Padus n.º 1 (1768)) — World Flora Online record, IPNI name record.
- Pet toxicity: Pet safety not verified: the ASPCA does not list Bird Cherry, so we can't confirm whether it is safe for cats and dogs. Checked against the ASPCA plant list; any other toxicity note on this page comes from PlantoScan's plant database.
- Care values(watering, light, temperature, humidity, soil, fertilizing): PlantoScan's plant database, filtered by automatic plausibility checks — values that fail them are hidden. How we source and check plant data.
Spotted a mistake? Email info@upvision.media with the page link — we check and correct reported errors.
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