Cherries & Plums

Cherries, Plums and Allies

What are they?

These woody members of the rose family (Rosaceae) are all members of the genus Prunus, which is a large and diverse group of trees and shrubs. This group contains a number of important fruit-bearing species as well as many species introduced from abroad as ornamentals and amenity plants.

Where are they found?

This diverse group contains species that are common, native hedgerow plants as well as a number of introduced species. Some of the latter may be found as garden escapes or throw-outs along roadsides and rough ground, while others are commonly planted as amenity and street trees in towns and cities.

Identification

This is a relatively large group with quite a few species to consider, while confusion may be possible with other members of the rose family, so attention to detail is important and more than one visit to the plant may be necessary to confirm details of various features such as flowers and fruits. Much detail can be noted in the flowers - length of flower stalk, whether the sepals are reflexed at flowering time and whether the flowers are carried singly, in clusters or united onto common stems in racemes. Fruits are often important, especially details of the stone (flattened in plums, globular in cherries, for example) and the overall size. Leaves are of lesser importance in most species, but details of the marginal teeth can sometimes be useful. It should particularly be noted that the various forms of plum (Damson, Cultivated Plum, Greengage) may often be unidentifiable unless fruits are present and even then they are so variable in their various features that considering them all to be simply forms of the Common Plum (Prunus domestica) is often the best bet.

Blackthorn Prunus spinosus

Native. Very common and widespread as a hedging plant and as a dominant, suckering shrub in scrub habitats. Flowers March to early May, carried singly or in pairs on short stalks (3-4mm) and appearing on bare stems before the leaves open; petals about 7mm in length. Sepals rather narrow, especially towards the tips, usually smooth-edged and flattened against the underside of the petals. A spreading bush to five metres tall with spines on vigorous suckers and older stems. Winter stems dark purple-brown, often with a greysh cast; lightly covered with short hairs. Fruits 9-18mm across, dark bluish-black with a pale bloom or pruinescence, rounded and with a rounded stone.


Habit	Flowers	Flower	Leaves

Leaves	Fruits	Young twig	Winter stem and bud

Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera

Introduced from SE Europe. Common and widespread as a hedging plant and less commonly as a small tree of woodland edge. Flowers February to early April, carried singly or two to three together on medium-length stalks (5-15mm) and opening with the first leaves; petals about 10mm in length. Sepals broadly rounded, usually minutely toothed along the margins, reflexed when the flowers are fully open. A bush when pruned as a hedge but plants will naturally form a small tree, to around eight metres in height. Winter stems green and hairless, although often turning reddish-purple on the upper side when exposed to sun. Fruits 20-30mm across, yellow or dark red, rounded and with a rounded stone, without a pale bloom. Plants are often biannual fruiters, only producing fruit in any quantity every other year.


Habit	Flowers	Reflexed sepals	Leaves

Fruit	Winter stem and bud	Bark

Cherry Plum cultivars Prunus cerasifera

Introduced, of garden origin. Common and widespread as a small tree where planted for amenity and utility in parks, cemeteries and along town streets. Flowers February to early April, carried singly or two to three together on medium-length stalks and opening with the first leaves. Ornamental trees are typically of various pink-flowered forms, the usual cultivars being the very pale pink 'Pissardii' or the deeper pink 'Nigra'. Both these varieties have purplish leaves and bear very few, dark reddish-purple fruits.


Habit	Flowers of 'Pissardii'	Flowers of 'Nigra'	Leaves

Winter stem and buds	Bark

Cultivated Plum Prunus domestica ssp. domestica

Probably originally introduced from Central Asia or Asia Minor but also cultivated locally to create a wide range of forms. Common and widespread as a hedgerow plant or relic of old gardens and suckering freely. Flowers March to May, carried two to three together and opening with the first leaves. Petals typically broader and larger than those of Cherry Plum. A very variable bushy, suckering, sometimes slightly spiny tree, seemingly having originated as a hybrid between Blackthorn and Cherry Plum with the various forms showing a mix of features of these two species. Winter stems green or reddish, typically downy on the youngest twigs. Fruits yellow, red or blue-purple, large (may be up to 80mm long), oval and with a clearly flattened stone, with a pale, whitish bloom.


Flower	Sepals	Leaf	Fruit

Flattened stone	Winter stem and bud	Young bark	Old bark

Damson Prunus domestica ssp. insititia

(Bullace) Occasional as a suckering, often spiny, hedgerow plant or relic of cultivation. Flowers March to May, carried two to three together and opening with the first leaves. Petals typically broader and larger than those of Cherry Plum and with the sepals not reflexing. A form of plum that is towards the Blackthorn end of the spectrum, with rather downy twigs. Fruits dark blue-purple or greenish with a pink tinge, small (20-30mm), round, with a slightly flattened stone and with a pale, whitish bloom.


Flowers	Flowers	Leaf	Fruit

Fruit	Stone	Winter stem	Young bark

Greengage Prunus domestica ssp. italica

Occasional as a suckering hedgerow tree or relic of cultivation. Flowers March to May, carried two to three together and opening with the first leaves. Petals typically broader and larger than those of Cherry Plum. A form that is towards the Cherry Plum end of the spectrum, with scarcely downy twigs. Fruits green or dull yellowish, medium-sized (25-40mm) (sometimes larger in modern varieties), round and with a flattened stone.


Flattened stone	Flowers	Leaves	Fruit

Winter stem and bud	Winter stem and bud	Young bark

Plum x Blackthorn Prunus x fruticans

Hybrids between Blackthorn and various plums are sometimes found in hedgerows and thickets. They generally have features that are intermediate between the parents in leaf and fruit size and the shape of the stone, with fruits typically 17-20 x 20-22mm. They can be rather variable in appearance, depending on which subspecies of plum is involved.


Leaf	Fruit	Stone	Downy stem

European Wild Cherry Prunus avium

Native but also widely planted. Common and widespread in copses and woods and also planted as an amenity tree. Flowers April to early May, carried two to six together on long stalks (20-50mm). In woodland, can form a large tree, to 30 metres in height. Fruits are small cherries with a rounded stone, turning bright red then blackish. Leaves coarsely and irregularly toothed on the margin. The bark of mature trees has well-defined, horizontal ridges. Note that double-flowered forms are popular for street plantings.


Flowers	Flowers	Double-flowered form	Leaf (left) with leaf of Sour Cherry (right)

Leaf margin	Fruits	Winter buds	Bark

Sour Cherry Prunus cerasus

(Dwarf Cherry). Rare as an ancient introduction and surviving as a relic of cultivation in hedgelines or woodland edge and rough ground, usually as a suckering shrub or small tree to six metres in height. Flowers April to early May, carried two to six together on long stalks (20-50mm). Fruits are small cherries with a rounded stone, turning bright red (dark red in some cultivated forms such as Morello cherries). Leaves regularly toothed on the margin, the teeth with small, reddish glands at the tips.


Flowers	Leaves	Leaf (left) with leaf of Wild Cherry (right)	Leaf margin

Fruits	Winter buds	Young bark	Older bark

St Lucie Cherry Prunus mahaleb

Introduced from mainland Europe. In the regional floras, this species is represented by a single tree, found near Ipswich. Flowers April to May, carried three to ten together on short stalks, the stalks coming from a short side shoot and unlike any other cherry in the region. Typically a small to medium tree, to ten metres in height. Fruits small, 8-10mm across, dark red when ripe. The leaves are broader than those of other cherries with rounded bases and rather resemble the leaves of pear trees.


Flowers	Flower stalks joined at base	Leaves	Leaves

Fruits	Winter buds	Bark

Winter Cherry Prunus subhirtella

Introduced from eastern Asia. Unlikely to spread naturally but occasionally found where planted as a roadside tree and commonly planted as an amenity and street tree in urban areas (especially in its semi-double forms). Flowers November to early April, the flowers opening whenever mild weather permits but often browned by sudden cold snaps. Most trees are of the cultivated variety 'Autumnalis' which has semi-double flowers, while 'Autumnalis Rosea' has deeper pink flowers.


Habit	Flowers	Flowers	Leaf

Leaf margin	Leaf stipules	Winter twig and bud	Bark

Japanese Cherry Prunus serrulata

Introduced from eastern Asia. Unlikely to spread naturally but occasionally found where planted as a roadside tree and commonly planted as an amenity and street tree in urban areas (especially in its double-flowered forms). Flowers late April to early May. A broad mix of small to medium-sized trees, most of which originate in cultivation from a number of Asian cherry species; many have double flowers like pompons. Leaves relatively large and coarsely-toothed, often bronze or purple-coloured when young. Cultivated trees are usually grafted onto stems of Wild Cherry (sometimes other Prunus species) so the bark of older trees can be variable.


Habit	Flowers of 'Kanzan'	Flowers of 'Ukon'	Leaves

Deeply serrated leaf margins	Winter buds	Bark	Bark

Tibetan Cherry Prunus serrula

Introduced from China. Uncommon, but occasionally found in old churchyards, parks or as a planted street tree. Flowers April to May, relatively small, carried singly or two to three together on long stalks (10-12mm). The bark is remarkable for its highly polished look and rich mahogany colour.


Flower	Flowers	Leaves	Leaves

Young bark	Older bark

Almond Prunus amygdalus

Prunus dulcis Introduced from southern Europe. Uncommon, but occasionally found in old churchyards, parks or as a planted street tree. Flowers Late February to April, relatively large, rich pink, carried on short stalks and appearing well before the leaves. Young stems are richly coloured green and reddish. Leaves long and tapered, highly susceptible to the fungal disease Peach Leaf Curl (Taphrina deformans) which causes reddening and deforming of the leaves. Fruits green and densely furry.


Habit	Flowers	Leaves	Leaf

Fruit	Winter twig	Young bark	Old bark

Apricot Prunus armeniaca

Introduced from southern Europe. Occasionally planted and surviving as a relic of cultivation; currently recorded from Cambridgeshire but could occur elsewhere. Flowers March to April, relatively large, pale pink. Rather similar to the much more common Almond, but with much broader leaves. Fruits are the familiar apricots, but are rarely produced in the UK due to an unfavourable climate for ripening.


Leaves	Flowers	Flowers

Winter twig	Winter twig	Young bark	Old bark

European Bird Cherry Prunus padus

Native but also often planted. A common species of damp woodland towards the north and west of our region. Less common but sometimes planted further south and east. Flowers May, carried in long, showy spikes or racemes. Typically a small to medium-sized, shrubby tree, to 15 metres in height, though often much less. Fruits small, 6-8mm across, shiny black when ripe. Leaves with distinctly impressed veins.