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
In the spring, wild cherry trees bloom, putting out clusters of five to six white flowers along bare branches. The individual blooms are cup-shaped with five oval petals. After being pollinated, these spring flowers turn into summer clusters of bright red cherries. 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
Before the leaves come out, the spring flowers give pollinators a place to get nectar. Then in summer, birds flock to pluck the ripe cherries.
Bark
Because wild cherry tree bark is pretty, this species is often used in landscaping. At first, young bark is smooth, with large, white pores called lenticels that are 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 old trees, the peeling bark shows the reddish-brown inner bark in a patchwork pattern that looks nice.
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.
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.
” alt=”what does a wild cherry tree look like” align=”center” />
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:
The bark is smooth, purple-brown, and shiny, with horizontal bands of lenticels.
branches: the lower branches spread, but the rest point upwards.
Flower: smells like almonds and sometimes shows up before the leaves
For fruit, little green cherries grow after the flowers. When they’re ready, they turn red and then purple.
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?
It’s easy to tell a wild cherry tree from other trees in the woods or fields in the winter because its black bark stands out. 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. People value wild cherry trees for their fine wood, and the fruit they produce is good for wildlife. 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?
To tell a wild cherry from a regular one, look for these key traits: wild cherries have unique leaves, fruits, bark, and shapes. Getting familiar with their many identifying traits makes spotting this beautiful species easy. Keep an eye out for wild cherries. They bring bright flowers and fruit to the edges of woods 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.
