PR14 European Bird Cherry ( Prunus padus )
European birdcherry is a deciduous ornamental cherry tree growing 20-40 feet tall with a rounded crown. Fragrant white flowers in pendulous 3-6" long clusters appear after the foliage emerges in spring. Flowers are followed by astringent, pea-sized, black cherries which ripen in mid-summer. As with the closely-related chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), the fruit is extremely bitter to humans but loved by birds. Serrate, dull dark green leaves. Foliage turns yellow in fall. Zones 3-7.