Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
General characteristics of a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
In mid-spring, during April and May, you'll see the clusters of flowers of the common bird cherry, Prunus padus L., from the Rose family, or Rosaceae. In many thickets, it's a shrub, but sometimes the species can grow into a 15-meter-tall tree in the richer forests where it prefers to grow. It's also called the bird cherry.
The trunks or branches originate from the roots, from which many suckers emerge. The bark is brown, and young twigs are green.
The simple leaves are scattered along the branches and twigs. They are light green. Unlike the leaves of the American bird cherry, they are not glossy and leathery. The shape is elliptical to oblong, and the leaf margin is serrated.
The nectar from the bird cherry blossoms is a veritable feast for insects, but there's even more to enjoy on this tree. The petiole contains two honey glands, which secrete a delicacy that bees, ants, and beetles love. The glossy, dark blue to black berries that appear on the branches and twigs in autumn are a favorite food for many birds – hence the name "bird cherry."
They are somewhat more difficult for humans to digest, although you can make delicious wine, jelly, and syrup from them. The blossoms are also suitable for tea, syrup, or lemonade, but don't overdo it: they contain hydrogen cyanide glycosides, which makes the flowers slightly toxic in certain doses.
Characteristics
How to plant a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
Roots at least 10 cm below ground
Caring for and pruning your Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
To properly care for the Prunus padus, it's important to keep the soil slightly moist. Water the plant regularly, especially during dry spells. Avoid overwatering, as this can lead to root rot. The Prunus padus requires little maintenance. Regularly remove dead or diseased branches to keep the plant healthy. Prune the plant in spring to maintain its shape and stimulate new growth.
Where does a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree grow
Bird cherry usually grows in rather shady deciduous forests on moist to wet, humus-rich, sandy to loamy soils. In terms of acidity, the species prefers moderate soils: highly acidic soils are avoided. They are often found in river and stream valley forests with moving groundwater, in seepage and spring zones. They can easily withstand temporary flooding and are characteristic of bird cherry-ash forests. Bird cherry is often present in small numbers, so the species is often overlooked, especially outside the flowering season. It can also appear in somewhat wetter oak-hornbeam forests near seepage zones (and even there, often in small numbers). When the tree is at the edge of the forest, the species is naturally more conspicuous. Outside the forest, it sometimes grows in hedgerows, especially near watercourses. Only very rarely are they found in hedgerows.
General
| Origin |
Native
|
| Tree Type | Shrub |
Length and Age
| Length in about 10 years | 8 Up to 10 Meter |
| Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years | Up to year |
| Maximum Age | Up to year |
| Required Space | Up to m2 |
| Growth Rate |
Reproduction
| Tree is Self-Pollinating | Yes |
| Reproduction Method |
Makes root suckers
Makes seedlings
|
| Reproduction rate |
|
Reproduction rate
| 1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds). |
| 2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required |
| 3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion). |
| 4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces |
| 5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed). |
Pruning Period
| This Tree is Evergreen | Yes |
| Summer | No pruning in summer |
| Winter | January tot March |
| Leaf Shapes | Elliptical |
| Easy to prune | Yes |
Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Lenticels | Yes |
| Colour |
Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Colour | |
| Bud Position |
Standing upright
|
| Bud Shape |
Pointed
|
Other
| Root |
Broad root system
|
| Bloom |
Has flowers
Has fruits
|
| Wind sensitivity | Moderately sensitive to (sea) wind |
Diseases
| Sensitive to the Following Diseases | Information not available |
Harvest/recognition in winter
A cherry-like tree with leaves that are not smooth; in winter it is almost indistinguishable from the American bird cherry, which has smooth, shiny leaves and black, dotted bark; it forms layers easily and has a distinctive scent.
Light requirement of the Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
Suitable soil types for the Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
| Soil type | Suitability |
|---|---|
| light clay |
|
| heavy clay |
|
| sand |
|
| peatland |
|
| Loam |
|
| Moerig op zand |
|
| Lichte zavel |
|
| Zware zavel |
|
Humidity
Suitable acidity level for the Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
Nutritional needs of the Bird Cherry / May Day Tree
| 1. | Very nutrient-poor soil |
| 2. | Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil |
| 3. | Nutrient-poor soil |
| 4. | Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil |
| 5. | Moderately nutrient-rich soil |
| 6. | Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil |
| 7. | Nutrient-rich soil |
| 8. | Extremely nutrient-rich soil |
| 9. | Very extremely nutrient-rich soil |
Humidity
| 1. | Extremely dry soils |
| 2. | Extremely dry to dry soils |
| 3. | Dry soils |
| 4. | Dry to dry/moist soils |
| 5. | Dry/moist soils |
| 6. | Dry/moist to moist soils |
| 7. | Moist soils |
| 8. | Moist to wet soils |
| 9. | Wet soils |
To be applied in landscapes
| Landscape | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Agroforestry |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Forest |
|
| Feeding hedge |
|
| Back yard |
|
| Small back yard |
|
| Solitary |
|
| Wood wall |
|
Cultural-historical value
Insects
| How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? | 40 |
| Which insect groups live on this tree/plant? |
Bees
Butterflies
Beetles
Lice
Ants
|
| Are there insects dependent on this species? | No |
| Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Birds
| Average number of birds per tree/plant? | |
| Which bird groups live on this tree/plant? |
common blackbirds
|
Mammals
| Average number of mammals per tree/plant? | |
| Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant? |
|
| Are there mammals dependent on this species? | No |
| Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Bloom Period
| Summer | April Up to May |
Tree Species
| Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with |
|
Suitable for mammals?
| Mammal | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Badgers |
|
| Squirrel |
|
| Ferret |
|
| Goat |
|
| Herbivorous rodents |
|
| Deer |
|
| Dog |
|
| Cat |
|
| Chicken |
|
| Cow |
|
| Human |
|
| Mouse |
|
| Horse |
|
| Roe deer |
|
| Sheep |
|
| Pig |
|
| Foxes |
|
| Wild boar |
|
| Beavers |
|
Explanation
Explanation
Edibility
- Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
- Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
- Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
- Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
- Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
- Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.
Trunk Height
Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree
Information not available
Trunk Diameter
(dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.
Information not available
Aboveground Biomass
in whole kgInformation not available
Belowground Biomass
in whole kgInformation not available
Substance Binder
| Which substances can be bound or absorbed? |
CO2
Particulate matter
|
Carbon Attraction (kf)
| (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree | Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48) |
Warming Resistance
| This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). | Yes |
CO2
| 0. | not filled in |
| 1. | no storage |
| 2. | low storage |
| 3. | moderate storage |
| 4. | high storage |
| 5. | very high storage |
Fine Dust
| 0. | not filled in |
| 1. | no capture capacity |
| 2. | low capture capacity |
| 3. | moderate capture capacity |
| 4. | high capture capacity |
| 5. | very high capture capacity |
This is what an adult tree Bird Cherry / May Day Tree looks like
This is what the fruits of a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree look like
This is what a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree in bloom looks like
This is what the bud of a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree looks like
This is what the leaf of a Bird Cherry / May Day Tree looks like
