Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) Hedge Plants Description

Wild Cherry awakens in spring with new leaves and flowers appearing simultaneously. The long-lasting flowers appear from red buds and are held in long drooping clusters, like cotton wool.

The leaves are bright green, oval and tooth-edged. The cherries have less flesh and are more bitter than the cultivated species, but have the same dark red colour from July and will be quickly stripped from the tree by birds. The Autumn colour of the leaves is spectacular. The tree has a neat and tidy shape with a straight trunk (with smooth red brown bark) and a rounded crown.

Wild Cherry is successful in light shade but fruits better in a sunny position and it does well in most soils and situations other than exposed sites (where the flowers would blow off) and waterlogged soils.

View our complete range of high quality, flowering hedge plants and our tasty range of edible hedging plants.

Wild Cherry can be grown as a tree or a hedge. As it is a UK native hedging species it can also be found in our Mixed Native hedging selection. See our full range of Mixed Native Hedging Packs for more information.

You’ll see our recommended planting densities for each size and root type listed in the product grid. We suggest that you use these as a guide, taking into consideration how long you’re willing to wait to see your finished hedge. As a rough indication bare roots can be planted at anything from 3 to 7 per metre and cell grown between 4 and 6 - the higher densities here would need to be planted in a double staggered row or zig-zag.

For more information on planting distances please see our planting density advice section.

Wild Cherry is often planted to look natural and not clipped when planted as a hedge or part of a hedgerow as it does not benefit from rigorous pruning which can leave it very susceptible to disease or damage. The ideal time for pruning is after fruiting and preferably when dormant in the winter months, especially if part of a mixed native hedge which would also be trimmed at this time to avoid nesting birds.

Ideally only lightly prune back any dead wood and branches, leaving the healthy stems alone. Over-pruning and cuts to a helathy stem can leave the plant open to infection and encourage diseases such as Silver Leaf, that releases spores over autumn and winter, bacterial canker and blossom wilt to take hold when the plant comes out of dormancy in the spring.

If the plant or tree shows signs of Silver Leaf during the summer months, prune back the affected areas only. It may be that susceptible plants are only pruned in summer rather than winter so as to avoid further re-infection the following winter.

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

There are some exceptions to the standard delivery pricing structure, which relate to deliveries to more remote areas, overseas, or extremely tall or large plants requiring specialist delivery - for more information see the Delivery Information Page. (Please note that due to new Brexit rules, we are currently unable to export to both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.).

Delivery Time - Please note that delivery times are currently 3-7 days excluding bank holidays. *Some troughs and trees may take up to 14 days delivery. We are working through existing orders as quickly as possible to deliver new orders within this timescale.

It's Convenient - no need to wait in all day to sign, we don't need a signature (the odd, larger order may require a signature but will be delivered at a mutually agreeable time).

It's Tried & Tested - we use only couriers who have shown consistency in their efficiency & care.

* Please note that delivery costs are based on the final order amount in your cart after any discounts have been applied.

Hedges Direct 12 Month Plant Guarantee

Our plants are guaranteed for 12 months after delivery subject to specific criteria. Visit our Hedges Direct Plant Guarantee Page for full details.

Nominated Day Delivery

Choose a delivery day that suits you with our new Nominated Day Delivery option at checkout. Whilst our standard no signature delivery means you don't need to take time away from other committments to receive your order, we understand that there are times our customers want to make sure they are present to accept delivery, either to plant straight away or to store somewhere safe and out of the way until you're ready to plant.

For an additional fee, you can make sure that your order arrives on the exact day you want it. Please note that this is additional charge to all qualifying orders, including those above the free delivery threshold for Standard Delivery.

Our Nominated Day Delivery is available year-round on the weekdays Tuesdays to Fridays, excluding the day after any bank holiday.

Some products are sent direct from our suppliers and as such are not available for Nominated Day Delivery. These include:

- Cell Grown Hedging Plants
- Instant Trough Grown Hedging Plants
- Instant Hedging Screens
- Premium Root Balls (250cm and above in height)
- Turf

To book your Nominated Day Delivery for farther ahead than the 3 week window available online, please contact our Sales & Advice team to discuss your options.