Cherry Plum

The Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera) a couple of allotments away is beginning to lose its blossom but it has been spectacular, as usual, and an early herald of spring. This is one of my favourite trees. The blossom gladdens the heart and is followed, in August, by lots of lovely red fruit. Depending on the variety the fruits can also be yellow and are round and smaller than a Plum (Prunus domestica), but with a characteristic plum stone in the centre.

The Cherry Plum is also known as the Myrobalan Plum. It forms a large suckering bush or small tree. Its blossom is often mistaken for the Blackthorn or Sloe (Prunus spinosa), but Blackthorn flowers after Cherry Plum and has blackish bark and stiff, spiny branches. Both attract large numbers of bees and if you stand next to Cherry Plum or Blackthorn blossom on a sunny day in a sheltered spot you will hear the hum of insects.

Cherry plum fruit makes great wine and jam I use them in crumbles too. You can eat them raw too. If you pick up windfalls be careful not to pick up a wasp as well; they love the fruit especially when it has been damaged.

If you have room, Cherry Plums are well worth growing as a decorative and practical tree. They make good hedges and there are purple-leaved forms with pink flowers as well.