Prunus padus

The Bird Cherry Prunus padus is a species of cherry, native to northern Europe and northern Asia. It is the type species of the subgenus Padus with flowers in racemes, and is a deciduous small tree or large shrub 8-16 m tall.

The English name refers to the fruit, which are very astringent and bitter, unsuitable for human food, but readily eaten by birds, which do not taste astringency as unpleasant.

There are two varieties:

• European Bird Cherry Prunus padus var. padus. Europe and western Asia.
• European Bird Cherry Prunus padus var. commutata. Eastern Asia.