Prunus avium

The wild cherry, or gean, Prunus avium, is a medium-sized deciduous tree with pure white flowers in spring, followed by small, red-purple cherries in summer. The chestnut-coloured bark becomes silvery with age, and leaves turn a rich orange-red in autumn.

There are many cultivars of wild cherry, including variety 'Plena', which has pendulous clusters of nodding double white flowers, and does not produce fruit. The fruits of Prunus avium are edible, but can be rather bitter, so opt for a cultivar if your main reason for growing it is to produce edible fruits.

For best results, grow in full sun with free-draining soil. Prunus avium is only suitable for large gardens – trees can reach 20m in height, or more.