Further Information

Planting distances are very much a matter of choice - for bare roots, 3 plants per metre is adequate, 5 is good, 7 in a double staggered row will give a dense hedge quicker. Generally, smaller plants should be planted at higher density. Cell grown should be planted at 4 per metre in a single row or ideally 6 per metre in a staggered row.

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

Pruning Advice

Bird Cherry on the whole is usually grown for a more natural aesthetic and is often left to grow without intervention. However, dependant upon where the hedge is situated, if a tidy-up is needed, a light pruning can be done in the summer after flowering and fruiting has finished, to remove any dead, broken, crossing or diseased branches.

Pruning Bird Chery at the wrong time of year, particularly in the winter months can potentially be detrimental to the plant, leaving it open to diseases such as Silver Leaf and bacterial canker. To ensure the health of your Bird Cherry hedge, take care to prune only if needed and ideally in summer.

Delivery & Returns

Everything you need to know about your delivery: Free delivery - this is available on most orders when you reach a minimum order value for your packaging type which is based on the size and quantity of plants that you order. Details are in the delivery information table below.

Packaging Type	Standard Delivery Charge	Minimum Order Values for FREE Delivery
Boxes (Bare roots and pots up to and inc 7.5L)	£7.99 delivery charge (orders up to £60)	Orders of £60 and over - FREE
Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc)	£60 delivery charge (orders up to £350)	Orders of £350 and over - FREE
Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery)	£450 delivery charge (orders up to £1500)	Orders of £1500 and over - FREE

Nominated Day Delivery – Choose a day that suits you for your delivery. If nominated delivery is available on the products you’ve chosen, you’ll be able to select this option at checkout. Fees for this will depend on the product selected and your delivery address.

For full delivery information, including geographical exceptions, see our delivery page

Bird Cherry Hedge Prunus padus

Sold out

Bird Cherry, (Prunus padus), is a popular native hedge plant commonly used in mixed native hedgerows. It also makes an attractive single species hedge or specimen tree. In April, Bird Cherry overflows with sweetly-fragrant, star-shaped white flowers borne on short racemes. The flowers are followed by small, bitter fruits, much relished by local wildlife. Bird Cherry's foliage then turns golden-yellow in autumn for additional seasonal interest.

NATIVE
AVERAGE GROWING
HAS BERRIES
HAS FLOWERS (White)

Planting Conditions: normal soil, partial shade to full sun, sheltered, inland
Growth Rate: Average | 20-40cm a year
Height: 1m-4m high
Bare root plants are shown in winter dormancy as a single bare root and a bundle for comparison. Please note if ordering 1 x bare root, this will be a single plant not a bundle unless shown as a multibuy item.
12 Month Guarantee On All Plants - Buy With Confidence

In stock

Subscribe to back in stock notification

I have read & accept the Privacy Policy

SKU PRUP

Bird Cherry Hedging Plants Description

Bird Cherry, (Prunus padus) is a deciduous, native hedge plant, which is also commonly grown as a tree. Interestingly, 'padus' is actually Greek for 'wild cherry', however Wild Cherry (Prunus avium), is a separate species of native cherry altogether.

In late spring, Bird Cherry is awash with white, almond-scented flowers carried on short spikes (racemes). The sweet, nectar-rich flowers are very popular with bees who are drawn to them for an early supply of food and pollen. After flowering, bitter dark fruits develop which are loved by birds and small mammals but are not edible for humans. The foliage also provides food for a range of insects, particularly the caterpillars of many species of moth, but is considered toxic to livestock.

Bird Cherry has an average growth rate of 20-40cm per year and is easily maintained between 1-4m. It requires little by way of trimming and maintenance as it is best when left to grow and develop naturally. If some tidying and trimming of your Bird Cherry hedge is needed, prune lightly in the summer months after flowering and fruiting, as pruning in winter can leave the plant open disease.

Prunus padus is most commonly used as a component in a mixed native hedge although it also makes an attractive stand-alone hedge. It grows well in most soils, even fairly poor or wet soils, often being found naturally in wetland areas or by rivers and streams. Bird Cherry isn't suitable for coastal areas or very exposed sites - although it is considered hardier than Wild Cherry, and it isn't suited to full shade.

For the perfect plants to complement Bird Cherry to form a mixed native hedgerow, view our fantastic Native Hedging range.

If you would like to explore other species possibilities for your hedge but need some guidance, then you'll find a comprehensive selection of alternatives and suggestions for your garden on our Choosing the Right Species page

What are root types?

Root types explained.

Bare root
Field grown, bare roots are young plants that are only planted when they are dormant, from autumn to spring. We lift bare root plants and despatch them during the season but they can be pre-ordered in summer. As they are cheaper to grow, they are one of our most affordable hedge planting options.
Pot grown
Pot grown plants can be planted year round and make a convenient option. They come in a wide range of sizes, from 10cm to 2.5m so they're suitable for the majority of planting requirements.
Root ball
Also field grown, root ball plants are scooped out of the ground using machinery to keep their root system intact and wrapped in bio-degradable, hessian sacks. They are mature plants that provide dense coverage very early on, ideal for when you need a thick hedge quickly.
Instant
Grown in troughs or bags that measure 50cm-1 metre in length and carefully clipped during the growing season. Our instant hedging troughs create a dramatic, instant hedge effect.