Gean, Wild Cherry (Prunus avium)
The Gean or Wild Cherry is a medium-sized tree with a wide ovate crown. The white flowers are delicately scented. The small dark red cherries are edible. The Wild Cherry is an important forrage tree for butterflies.
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Appearance
The Gean or Wild Cherry is a medium-sized tree with a wide ovate crown. The white flowers are delicately scented. The small dark red cherries are edible. The Wild Cherry is an important forrage tree for butterflies.
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Spring
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Autumn
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Leaf upperside
Oblong, stalked leaves, pointed, 6-12cm long, 3-6cm wide, leaf stem 2-5cm long. Leaves are dark green above and pale green below, turn a decorative orange or scarlet-red colour in autumn.
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Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, beautiful flowers, mildly scented, in white clusters.
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Fruits
Edible, small dark-red cherries. Sweetly aromatic. Up to 2.5cm in diameter.
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Bark
Grey or grey-green bark with horizontal lenticular banding or flat shallow furrows. Only peels off on one side. Branches are brown, chestnut coloured or silvery.
Application
Open country, afforestation, open fields, soil improvement, forage for honey-bees, public areas, parks, roadside verges, private parks
Native regions
Southern Europe, Southeastern Europe, Asia Minor, Balkans, Mediterranean countries, Caucasus, Turkey
Location parameters
Light: sunny to semi-shady, temperature: warm to cool, soil: fresh to moist, stagnant moisture: to be avoided, soil structure: firm to normal, soil depth: medium to deep, soil quality: medium to high, pH value: 7.0 to 8.5
Demands
Sun to slight shade; likes warmth, frost-hardy; demanding tree; likes nutrient-rich, fresh to moist, alkaline and loamy soils; does not grow well in acid sand and clay; limited resistance to urban climates; intolerant of salt
Growth
Height of growth: 15m to 30m, spread: 8m to 12m, growth habits: wide, inclined, upright, central leader
Leaves
Oblong, stalked leaves, pointed, 6-12cm long, 3-6cm wide, leaf stem 2-5cm long. Leaves are dark green above and pale green below, turn a decorative orange or scarlet-red colour in autumn.
Flowers
Flowering period IV-V, beautiful flowers, mildly scented, in white clusters.
Fruits
Edible, small dark-red cherries. Sweetly aromatic. Up to 2.5cm in diameter.
Bark
Grey or grey-green bark with horizontal lenticular banding or flat shallow furrows. Only peels off on one side. Branches are brown, chestnut coloured or silvery.
Roots
Surface-rooting, heart-rooter, fleshy roots, expansive root system