Deno’s GardenMy Garden

Prunus avium

Bird Cherry · Gean · Gean Cherry · Sweet Cherry

Family RosaceaeGenus Prunus

A branch of white blossom with new leaves against a clear blue sky, over a weathered rock
FlowerRoman A. Lagazyuk (Роман А. Лагазюк)CC BY 4.0
A plate of a cherry branch: toothed pointed leaves, white five-petalled flowers, and two dark red cherries with the stones drawn separately.
IllustrationCarl Axel Magnus LindmanPublic domain

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
TreeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
treePlants of the World Online
Flower
WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Austria, Belarus, Belgium and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sunExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • Every part except the ripe fruit is slightly toxic. Birds and mammals spread the seeds, and the hawfinch cracks the stones to eat the kernel. Wikipedia: Prunus avium
  • The tree seals wounds in its bark with a gum that keeps out insects and fungi. It is thought to be one of the parents of the sour cherry. Wikipedia: Prunus avium

This source reports two treatments. Both are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around January 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on January 23, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    10 germinated in this phase.

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    3 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 5 run on after germination.

about 12 months from start to step 5. Germination happens during step 5, in 77 days.

40% germination in 77 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Prunus p. 201Public domain
Show the original text
Prunus (Rosaceae). All seed was WC for 7 d. P. avium var. juliaria germ. 70-40-70(10%)-70-40(40% in 11th w)-70(3%) and 40-70-40-70(5%)-40-70(5%). Seeds DS for 6 m at 70 were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Prunus p. 201. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1993

Difficulty Very high Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around June 19, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on June 18, 2026.

  1. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

    5 germinated in this phase.

Steps after step 4 run on after germination.

about 9 months from start to step 4. Germination happens during step 4; time not stated, 21 days assumed.

5% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed. — N. C. Deno, 1993 · Ch. 20, Prunus p. 201Public domain
Show the original text
Prunus (Rosaceae). All seed was WC for 7 d. P. avium var. juliaria germ. 70-40-70(10%)-70-40(40% in 11th w)-70(3%) and 40-70-40-70(5%)-40-70(5%). Seeds DS for 6 m at 70 were dead.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 2nd ed., Ch. 20, Prunus p. 201. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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