Sweet cherry
Prunus avium
Also called Cherry, Cherry tree, Wild cherry and Gean
Garden plant · Herbs, veg & fruitNET IT OR LOSE IT. Birds take a whole crop in two days, the week before you would have picked. A fan against a wall is netted in ten minutes; a standard tree cannot be.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Medium
- Water
- Every 6 daysWater the ground — water at the base, in the morning, not over the leaves.
- Light
- Full sun
- Feed
- Every 45 days
- Humidity
- Average
- Hardiness
- Hardy — a very cold winter RHS H6, to -20°C
- Size
- 4 m tall · 4 m across
- Lifecycle
- Tree
- Origin
- Europe and western Asia
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsToxic to pets
Affects dogs, cats, horses.
PeopleHarmful if eaten
The leaves, stems and stones. Safe to eat: the ripe flesh.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-08-04.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.