Naming |
| Botanical Name: |
Prunus avium
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| Common Names: |
Wild Cherry, Gean, Mazzard
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| Key Name: |
Sweet Cherry
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| Parts Used: |
Bark, fruit, leaves
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| Sister Plants: |
Prunus cerasus, Prunus serotina, Prunus padus
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| Comments: |
Valued fruit tree with significant pollinator support; widely cultivated globally
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Characteristics |
| Identifying Character: |
Medium to large tree (30-60 ft), reddish-brown bark with lenticels, serrated oval leaves, white flowers in clusters, dark red to black cherries
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| Stem: |
Reddish-brown with horizontal lenticels, peeling in mature trees
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| Leaves: |
Oval, serrated, 2-5 inches, glossy green turning yellow in fall
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| Flowers: |
White, 5-petaled flowers in clusters, blooming April-May
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| Fruit: |
Dark red to black cherries, 1-2 cm, ripening June-July
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| Taste: |
Sweet to slightly tart (fruit), bitter (bark)
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| Odour: |
Mildly fragrant flowers, woody bark scent
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| Root: |
Deep, spreading root system; supports soil structure
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| Image URL: |
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Distribution |
| Distribution: |
Europe, Western Asia, North Africa; naturalized worldwide
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| Cultivation: |
Prefers well-drained loam, full sun; propagate by seed or grafting
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| Harvest: |
Bark: Spring from pruned branches; Fruit: Early summer
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Medical |
| Therapeutic Action: |
Astringent, diuretic, expectorant, sedative
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| Medical Uses: |
Used for coughs, colds, bronchitis, digestive issues, urinary tract health, and mild sedation; bark as a cough remedy
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| Constituents: |
Anthocyanins, coumarins, amygdalin (in bark), vitamin C
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| Solvents: |
Water, alcohol (tincture), glycerin
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| Dosage: |
Bark tincture: 5-10 drops in water 2-3 times daily; Fruit: 10-20 cherries daily
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| Administration: |
Internal: Tincture or syrup; External: Poultice for inflammation
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| Formulas: |
Combine with licorice for cough syrup; with chamomile for sedation
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| Contra Indications: |
Bark contains amygdalin (cyanide risk if overused); avoid in pregnancy; consult healthcare provider
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| Preparation: |
Tincture: Steep 1 part bark in 5 parts alcohol for 2-4 weeks; Syrup: Simmer bark with honey and water
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| Chinese: |
No documented use in Traditional Chinese Medicine
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| Veterinary: |
Used for coughs or wound poultices in livestock
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| Homeopathic: |
No known homeopathic use documented
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Pollination and Pollinators |
| Apis: |
No
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| Pollinator: |
1
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| Pollen: |
Yes
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| Pollen Notes: |
Wind-dispersed, visited by bees for pollen
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| Nectar: |
Yes
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| Nectar Notes: |
Attracts bees for nectar, supports pollinator health
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Other |
| Non-Medical Uses: |
Wood for furniture, ornamental planting, wildlife habitat
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| Culinary Uses: |
Fruit eaten fresh, dried, or in preserves; bark in teas
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| History: |
Used in European folk medicine for centuries; bark in cough syrups since antiquity
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| Reference: |
Plants For A Future; European Herbal Traditions
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| URL: |
https://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Prunus+avium
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| Share: |
Private
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