Pollinator plant

Sweet cherry

Prunus avium

Linked agroforestry plant data
Pollinator recipe
Sign in to use recipes

Common names

48 names · 33 languages
EnglishYour language
+2 more namesShow fewer names
Other languages (32)
Dutch
French
Asturian
Basque
  • Gereziondoa[4]
Belarusian
  • Чарэшня[4]
Catalan
Chinese (Simplified)
  • 欧洲甜樱桃[4]
  • 西洋实樱[4]
Chinese (Traditional)
  • 歐洲甜櫻桃[4]
Croatian
  • Divlja trešnja[4]
Czech
  • třešeň obecná[4]
  • třešeň ptačí[4]
Danish
  • Fugle-kirsebær[4]
Estonian
  • magus kirsipuu[4]
Finnish
  • imeläkirsikka[4]
Galician
German
Hebrew
  • דובדבן מתוק[4]
Hungarian
  • madárcseresznye[4]
  • Vadcseresznye[4]
Italian
Japanese
  • オウトウ[4]
  • セイヨウミザクラ[4]
Korean
  • 양벚나무[4]
Lithuanian
  • Paprastoji trešnė[4]
Norwegian
Polish
  • Wiśnia ptasia[4]
Portuguese
Romanian
Russian
  • Черешня[4]
Slovak
  • čerešňa vtáčia[4]
Slovenian
Spanish
Swedish
  • Sötkörsbär[4]
Turkish
Ukrainian
  • Черешня[4]
Sources & name notes (6)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Prunus avium — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Sweet Cherry — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Prunus avium.
[2] Prunus avium — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy. This is a common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • sweet cherry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Zoete kers — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • wild cherry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Vogelkirsche — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • bird cherry — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Gean — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Mazzard — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cerezo silvestre — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Cerisier des oiseaux — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • merisier — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • ciliegio — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cerejeira — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cerejeira-brava — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
[3] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Prunus avium ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Sweet cherry (EN) — VernacularName.tsv, line 168389; taxon 4N8P4.
  • Vogelkirsche (DE) — VernacularName.tsv, line 168391; taxon 4N8P4.
  • Süßkirsche — VernacularName.tsv, line 168390; taxon 4N8P4.
[4] Prunus avium — iNaturalist taxon names ↗

Community-curated iNaturalist taxonomy; common-name attestation, not an independent botanical determination.

Source records
  • sweet cherry — results[0].names[2]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Zoete kers — results[0].names[15]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • wild cherry — results[0].names[1]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Vogelkirsche — results[0].names[45]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • bird cherry — results[0].names[32]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Gean — results[0].names[4]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Mazzard — results[0].names[3]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cerezo silvestre — results[0].names[28]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Cerisier des oiseaux — results[0].names[43]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • merisier — results[0].names[10]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • ciliegio — results[0].names[9]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cerejeira — results[0].names[5]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cerejeira-brava — results[0].names[6]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cirerer — results[0].names[7]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • cirer — results[0].names[8]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Wiśnia ptasia — results[0].names[11]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • třešeň obecná — results[0].names[12]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Sötkörsbär — results[0].names[13]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Fugle-kirsebær — results[0].names[14]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Черешня — results[0].names[16]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • magus kirsipuu — results[0].names[17]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • דובדבן מתוק — results[0].names[18]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • třešeň ptačí — results[0].names[19]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Cerezal — results[0].names[20]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • morell — results[0].names[21]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • imeläkirsikka — results[0].names[22]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • zreizal — results[0].names[23]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Paprastoji trešnė — results[0].names[24]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • čerešňa vtáčia — results[0].names[25]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • セイヨウミザクラ — results[0].names[26]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • オウトウ — results[0].names[27]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • 欧洲甜樱桃 — results[0].names[29]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • 歐洲甜櫻桃 — results[0].names[30]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • kiraz — results[0].names[31]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Cireș — results[0].names[33]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Черешня — results[0].names[34]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Чарэшня — results[0].names[35]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • 양벚나무 — results[0].names[36]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • češnja — results[0].names[37]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Vadcseresznye — results[0].names[38]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • 西洋实樱 — results[0].names[39]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Divlja trešnja — results[0].names[40]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Cerdeira — results[0].names[41]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • madárcseresznye — results[0].names[42]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
  • Gereziondoa — results[0].names[44]; taxon id 61964; Prunus avium.
[5] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • wild cherry — Page 2, column 1, row top 247 pt; common-name cell after Prunus avium.; Prunus avium.
  • gean — Page 2, column 1, row top 247 pt; common-name cell after Prunus avium.; Prunus avium.
[6] Royal Horticultural Society — common names ↗

Names retained from the referenced botanical profile or table.

Source records
  • wild cherry — Page 2, column 2, row top 487 pt; common-name cell after Prunus avium.; Prunus avium.
  • gean — Page 2, column 2, row top 487 pt; common-name cell after Prunus avium.; Prunus avium.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Prunus avium is an accepted species in Catalogue of Life.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1]
Botanical family
Rosaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [1]
Plant habit
Columnar; Conical

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

NC State Extension profile.

Sources [2]
Flowering season
Spring

NC State Extension profile. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [2]
Native range
Europe to Afghanistan, Northern Africa

NC State Extension profile. Origin reported by the source; this is not a claim of local nativeness.

Sources [2]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [2]
Pollinator guidance
RHS includes Prunus avium in its Plants for Pollinators guidance.

RHS planting guidance. Choose accessible flowers with pollen and nectar; reduced-resource and double-flowered forms may be unsuitable.

Sources [3] [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

High suitability
Nectar value High
Pollen value High
Agroforestry database

Complete plant information

Open full plant profile

Structure

Vegetation layer
Fruit tree
Size
Large
Dimensions
18.00 m high × 7.00 m wide
Growth rate
Fast
Lifecycle
Perennial
Foliage
Deciduous

Site conditions

USDA hardiness
3-7
Moisture
Moist
Soil
Sandy, Loamy, Clay
pH
Acid, Neutral, Alkaline
Light
Partial shade, Sun

Uses

Edible parts
Fruit, Seed
Functions
Dye, Gum, Timber, Pollinator plant
Edibility
4 out of 5
Medicinal value
2 out of 5

The fruit, both raw and cooked, can be sweet or bitter, but never sour. It is used in dishes such as pies and jams because of its sweet taste. The fruit consists of about 78% water and contains 8.5-14% sugars. With a diameter of about 20 mm, the fruit contains a large seed. Be careful not to eat the seed if it is too bitter, as it can then be toxic. An edible gum can be obtained by processing the bark.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Prunus avium — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 1041500; ID 4N8P4; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 1041500; ID 4N8P4; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. NC State Extension Prunus avium — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Plant habitFoliageLightFlowering seasonNative rangeReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Native range: Country Or Region Of Origin
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  3. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Wildflowers

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 2, entry Prunus avium (top 487 pt)

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Horticultural Society RHS Plants for Pollinators — Plants Of The World

    RHS planting guidance; applicable flower-form restrictions are retained. General recommendations do not measure local nectar or pollen production.

    Supports: Pollinator guidance
    Relevant sections
    • Pollinator guidance: Page 2, column 1, entry Prunus avium (top 247 pt)

    Source checked on .