![Close-up of the white flowers on a wild cherry branch, against a blue sky.](/sites/default/files/styles/forest_slide_wide_desk/public/media/wild%20cherry.jpg?h=91e45d3c&itok=r2v4Aljr)
Wild cherry, also known as 'gean', is a fast-growing native tree found in woodlands throughout England. Celebrated for its colourful blossom and bright fruits, this tree is loved by gardeners and birds alike.
Wild cherry facts and figures
- with a life span of around 60 years, the wild cherry (Prunus avium) can grow up to 30 metres tall.
- its natural range is Europe, North Africa and West Asia.
- seeds are spread by birds and mammals dropping or swallowing them, but wild cherry can also self-propagate with root suckers.
![Cherry branch with leaves and unripe green fruit](/sites/default/files/styles/slide_mobile_0_5x/public/media/cherry%20leaves%20with%20unripe%20fruit.jpg?h=d1d7ac34&itok=zgFZxSqw)
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.
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.
![Close-up of white flowers on a wild cherry tree in full bloom](/sites/default/files/styles/slide_mobile_0_5x/public/media/Wild%20cherry%20tree%20-%20Getty.jpg?h=7a2237fe&itok=e6AZLBO0)
Wild cherry and future forestry
A 'pioneer' species that needs light to grow, it grows very quickly for a broadleaf tree. This makes it useful for planting on new sites, but is not very long lived and prone to infection.
Wild cherry may favour a warming climate, but can suffer in drought. It will continue to be an important tree in mixed woodlands, and is valuable for wildlife, supporting many different species of moths.