Common bird cherry or racemose bird cherry

Family Rosaceae (Rosaceae). This species has a very extensive range, stretching from the European forest-tundra in the north to the Caucasus in the south, from Portugal in the west to the Yenisei in the east. Its preferred habitats are rich, well-moistened soils of coniferous and mixed forests.

Usually a tree up to 15–17 m in height with brown bark that becomes fissured with age and has a characteristic bitter aroma. The crown is wide, dense, with drooping branches; the bark is smooth, matte, black-gray. Young shoots are green but quickly turn brown. Elliptic leaves up to 15 cm long, dark green, slightly wrinkled, with sharply serrated margins. Trees begin to flower and bear fruit at 5–6 years. Then, against the background of the leaves, fragrant, pendent clusters of white flowers up to 12 cm long stand out in contrast.

If you are very lucky, you may encounter trees with pink flowers. The flowers appear in May, and after a week to a week and a half a few gusts of wind are enough — and a whirl of petals will spin, filling the air with the distinctive scent of bird cherry. Now you only have to wait for the fruits. Black, shiny, juicy edible drupes ripen in mid-July. The fruits are tart and astringent. Ground together with their stones, they are used as a filling for pies; the fruits are also used for making beverages or for coloring them.

Grows quickly, frost-hardy, moisture-loving, shade-tolerant. Tolerates urban conditions satisfactorily. Regenerates well by suckers from the stump and roots. Can be propagated by seeds, cuttings, and layers. Is damaged by the bird cherry moth. Produces strong root suckers from the stump. Phytoncide.