When is a cherry not a cherry?…when it’s really a plum and has the name Prunus cerasifera.
Prunus cerasifera means “bears cherry like fruit”.
Prunus cerasifera Flowers
It was first introduced to Britain about 300 years ago and was grown for its fruit. While nowadays it’s used very often by commercial growers as the rootstock for the grafted domestic plum tree.
It’s often confused with Prunus spinosa commonly known as Blackthorn. Moreover the flowers are very similar but this Prunus doesn’t have prickly stems and it also flowers slightly earlier than the Blackthorn.
It can also be confused with Prunus domestica the Wild Plum. But the Cherry Plum can be identified by its green twigs as only the 1st-year twigs are green. However those of the Wild Plum and Blackthorn are brown or grey.
Prunus cerasifera Fruits
The white flowers then produce small green spherical fruits/dupes which ripen to orange/red in July and August. You need to be quick though to forage for them as the birds devour the fruits so quickly.
Have you ever eaten these fruits?
Most of the trees here produce a sparse crop each year. Due to their astringent taste they are best used to make jam. If your Cherry Plum produces yellow fruit then those are sweet enough to be eaten raw. Though I’ve not found any in this vicinity.
My neighbour forages and shares with me though unsure if these contain cherry plums. But her chutney certainly does and we’ve eaten it all! Seemingly they are a very unrated wild fruit. Another of nature’s bounty, wild and free and just waiting to be picked. Then turned into Chutney or Wild Cherry Plum Jam.
Gerry Snape
lovely post…yes we ate them. My son and daughter-in-law make jam and chutney from them. They make the wooded areas in the local suburbs so fresh and hopeful at this time of year.
Ellie
That blossom is just so pretty.
I'm always amazed at the wealth of knowledge you have on all things plants. I love coming to read you blog :))
Andrea
When i saw flowering trees i know are in the Prunus family, i just consider it as that, but whatever it is plum, apricot, pear or apple i love their flower. Of course i don't know how to differentiate them. In the mountains of turkey i saw fully flowering small shrub/tree with white flowers and they said they are wild plums, i love them.
Gatsbys Gardens
Very interesting, I have never heard them referred to as a cherry/plum. I will have to look this one up and see if it grows in our zone. Thanks for the info.
Eileen
igardendaily.com
I had no idea but am considering a Cherry Tree for my garden. Thank you!
HolleyGarden
Good info. I've never had these little fruit, but that jam looks delicious. Great photos, too.
Curbstone Valley Farm
The fruits certainly are cherry like! I remember blackthorns, prickly things, although I haven't seen one in years. We are a little shy on English hedgerows here though!