Wild Cherry Hedge (Prunus avium)

Wild Cherry Hedge Plants Description

Wild Cherry, or Prunus avium, is a fast-growing, deciduous tree that can be cultivated as a hedge to add beauty and seasonal interest to your garden. Known for its striking display of white, fragrant blossoms in spring, followed by small, red to dark purple cherries in summer, this hedge brings both ornamental value and wildlife benefits. The lush green foliage turns a spectacular mix of red and orange in autumn, adding vibrant colour to the landscape. Ideal for larger gardens or naturalistic hedging, Wild Cherry is a great choice for providing screening and enhancing biodiversity.

Benefits:

Seasonal beauty: In spring, Wild Cherry hedges burst into masses of white flowers, creating a stunning display. The flowers are followed by small cherries in summer, which attract birds and other wildlife. The leaves then turn vivid shades of red and orange in autumn, providing a striking seasonal transformation.

Wildlife-friendly: The flowers are a source of nectar for pollinators like bees, while the cherries provide food for birds and small mammals. The dense growth also offers shelter and nesting opportunities for wildlife.

Fast-growing: Wild Cherry is a vigorous grower, making it ideal for quickly establishing a tall hedge or screen.

Hardy and adaptable: This hedge is tolerant of a wide range of soil types and conditions, including chalky or clay soils, and can thrive in full sun to partial shade. It is also fairly resistant to cold, making it suitable for most UK climates.

Erosion control: The extensive root system helps stabilise soil, making it useful for planting on slopes or areas prone to erosion.

Pruning Advice

Wild Cherry hedges benefit from regular pruning to maintain their shape and size, as they can grow quite tall and wide if left unchecked. The best time to prune is in late summer to early autumn, after fruiting, as this helps prevent the spread of diseases such as silver leaf. Remove any dead, damaged, or diseased branches, and trim back excess growth to maintain a neat hedge. If the hedge becomes too large or overgrown, it can be hard-pruned in late winter to rejuvenate it, but avoid cutting into old wood, as this may reduce new growth.

With its beautiful flowers, attractive fruit, and vibrant autumn foliage, Wild Cherry is an excellent hedge choice for adding seasonal interest, screening, and wildlife value to your garden.

Further Information

Planting distances are largely a matter of preference. For bare root plants, spacing them at 3 plants per meter is sufficient, 5 plants is optimal, and 7 plants in a double staggered row will result in a denser hedge more quickly. Generally, smaller plants should be planted at a higher density. For cell-grown plants, spacing at 4 plants per meter in a single row or ideally 6 plants per meter in a staggered row is recommended.

Delivery & Returns

Free delivery is available on most orders (except Premium Products) providing they meet the minimum spend criteria for the size of box or pallet. Pallet deliveries and large box deliveries for tall plants are indicated by icons on the product table listings. Delivery costs and minimum order details for each packaging type are as follows:

* Standard Sized Boxes (Bare root up to 1.2m tall & pots up to 7.5L) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £100 | or £7.99 charge.

* Tall Sized Boxes (Bare roots 1.2m & over) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £100 | or £14.99 charge.

* Pallets (Root balls, large pots 10L+, trees etc | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £350 | or £60 charge.

* Pleached Trees (Specialist Delivery) | Free UK Mainland Delivery for orders over £1500 | or £450 charge.