Mahaleb cherry
Prunus mahaleb
MediumSecondary
Production
A tough, drought- and lime-tolerant little cherry prized for wildlife forage, aromatic seed and as cherry rootstock. Pretty in blossom, but seeds are toxic in quantity and fruit is mostly for the birds.
Tolerances & traits
- Strata
- Medium
- Lifecycle
- Secondary
- Soil preference
- Rocky, Loam
- Soil pH range
- 6.5 – 8.5
- Min. temperature
- -25°C
- Min. rainfall
- 400 mm/year
- Wind tolerance
- Medium
- Frost tolerance
- High
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Irrigation needed
- Low
How to manage it
Drought- and lime-tolerant small cherry valued for wildlife forage, aromatic seed (mahlab spice) and as a cherry rootstock; prune lightly after fruiting.
Watch out for
Seeds and foliage contain cyanogenic compounds and are toxic if consumed in quantity; fruit is small and bitter, mainly for wildlife; blossom can be caught by late frosts.
Design your line to see how your land fits Mahaleb cherry.
Start designing your line →Related species