With its beautiful blossoms and tasty fruit, the wild cherry (Prunus avium) is a delightful find in any landscape. But how can you recognize a wild cherry tree? This species has some key identifying features to look for.
Mature Tree Size and Form
-
Grows up to 100 feet tall and can live 60+ years.
-
Narrow, conical shape when young.
-
Broadens with age into a rounded spreading canopy.
-
Typically has a single main trunk with some low branches
Wild cherries develop an open, rounded shape at maturity, with one main trunk and low-growing branches. Look for trees reaching 60-100 feet tall that are broader than they are tall.
Leaves and Leaf Arrangement
-
Alternate, simple leaves with oval shape.
-
Pointed tip and serrated, toothed edges.
-
Smooth, shiny green on top and paler underneath.
-
4-6 inches long by 2-3 inches wide.
-
Petioles (leaf stems) have two red glands at top.
Wild cherry leaves are oval with a tapered tip and small teeth along the edges. The leaves alternate along branches and have a pair of reddish glands on the leaf stems.
Flowers and Fruit
-
Flowers bloom in spring as clusters of 5-6 white flowers.
-
Petals are oval with slightly rounded tips.
-
Mature into clusters of round, bright red cherries in summer.
-
Each cherry contains one large seed (a pit or stone).
Look for white, cup-shaped flower clusters opening along bare branches in spring. These mature into dangling clusters of vivid red wild cherries in summer.
Bark
-
Smooth with prominent horizontal lenticels (pores).
-
Variegated pattern of reddish-brown and creamy white.
-
Becomes scaly and begins shedding with age.
Young bark is a distinctive patchwork of reddish strips and pale horizontal lines. Older bark develops a more broken, scaly texture.
Twigs
-
Slender and smooth with a reddish hue.
-
Lenticels dot the surface.
-
Terminal buds are egg-shaped with a sharp point.
-
Arranged in small clusters.
Twigs are slender and reddish-brown with oval terminal buds grouped together. Buds have a noticeably pointed tip.
Where Found
-
Native to Europe and Western Asia. Naturalized in North America.
-
Sunny, open fields and woodland edges.
-
Prefers moist, well-drained, fertile soil.
Look for wild cherries along sunny field borders, woodland edges, and roadsides. Avoid damp, shady forest interiors.
Similar Species
-
Black cherry (Prunus serotina) – more shrubby growth habit.
-
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) – red fall foliage, shorter.
-
Pin cherry (Prunus pensylvanica) – smaller tree with shiny red bark.
Wild cherry is most often confused with other cherry/plum species. Compare bark, leaf shape, flowers, and growth form.
When to See Key Features
Spring: Blossoms, young red leaf stems, leaf emergence
Summer: Green foliage, cherries
Fall: Yellow to red fall leaf color
Winter: Bark, buds, twigs
Different traits help identify wild cherry trees year-round. Look for flowers in spring, fruit in summer, fall foliage, and bark/twigs in winter.
Quick ID Tips
Look for these key features to distinguish a wild cherry:
-
Oval green leaves with sharp tip and red leaf stem glands
-
Clusters of white spring flowers and dangling red summer cherries
-
Patchy, reddish-brown bark with pale horizontal lenticels
-
Tall, rounded shape with single trunk
Wild cherries have distinctive leaves, fruits, bark, and form. Getting familiar with their many identifying traits makes spotting this beautiful species easy. Keep an eye out for wild cherries bringing splashes of white blossoms and bright fruits to woodland edges and fields.
What does wild cherry look like?
Credit: Klein & Hubert / naturepl.com
oval, green, toothed, and tipped with a point; 6–15 cm long; two red glands on the stalk at the base of the leaf They fade to orange and deep crimson in autumn.
Credit: Paul Coppi / WTML
Cherry trees are hermaphrodite, meaning the male and female reproductive parts are found in the same flower. Flowers, measuring 8–15mm across appear in April and are white and cup-shaped, with five petals. They hang in clusters of two to six.
Credit: Brian Legg / WTML
After pollination by insects, the flowers develop into globular, hairless, deep-red cherries.
Not to be confused with:
Trees woods and wildlife
Download our free Tree ID app for Android and iPhone to identify the UKs native and non-native trees. Its an A-Z tree guide in your pocket.
Credit: Richard Becker / WTML
Identifying Wild Cherry
FAQ
Can you eat wild cherries from a wild cherry tree?
Does a wild cherry tree produce fruit?
What is mistaken for a cherry tree?
What does a wild cherry tree look like?
The black bark of an established wild cherry is easily visible in the winter months, standing out among the other trees in the woods or fields. 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.
How do you know if a cherry tree is wild?
Wild cherry trees can usually be identified by their leaves and bark. The leaves will have finely serrated edges and the bark typically features horizontal lenticels on newer growth, and sometimes older growth too. Chokecherry and black cherry trees are very similar in appearance, however, the chokecherry tree usually has smaller, glossier leaves.
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.