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Prunus padus

Prunus padus

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Plantae
Order
Rosales
Family
Rosaceae
Genus
PRUNUS
Species
padus
Synonyms
bird cherry, hackberry, hagberry, or Mayday tree

Habitat / Home / Areal

It is widespread in parts of Europe and in Central and Northern Asia. It is a rare tree in our country, it grows for example in northern Croatia on hilly areas in wet places along the edges of forests or along rivers and streams.

Botanical description

Habitus: deciduous shrub or tree. It grows up to 15 m in height, forming a wide, rounded canopy. The trunk is up to 60 cm in diameter. The root system is well developed, although shallow, horizontal. When young, the bark is grey-brown, smooth, with an unpleasant smell, later it becomes dark and flaky.

Flower: The flowers are bisexual, monoecious, white and fragrant, in dense hanging clusters 10-15 cm long. The calyx has 5 yellowish, slightly fused lobes that are often bent backwards, the petals have 5, they are round-ovoid, 5-10 mm long, slightly toothed in the upper part. 

Leaf: alternate, 5-12 cm long, about 7 cm wide, oval, heart-shaped at the base, short-pointed tip, finely and sharply serrated, on the upper side dark green and bare, the underside is lighter and hairy in the axils of the veins, they have about 1-2 cm long petioles.

Growth conditions / Cultivation / Care

Deep humus soil, moist and well-drained places; normal, slightly alkaline soil; moderate climate; sunny habitat

Gallery

Use / Function and landscape

It is planted as a solitary tree or in group plantings (city parks), and it is also suitable for gardens.

Special use

The fruits are edible, although they have a bitter taste due to the tannins and are tight in the mouth. They can be used for processing into jams, liqueurs, syrups, vinegar and more.

Reproduction

It is propagated by seeds or vegetatively, by cuttings and layers.