Prunus Padus Albertii Bird Cherry Tree

Prunus Padus Albertii, also known as Bird Cherry Albertii, is a beautiful ornamental hybrid of the native Bird Cherry Prunus Padus. It was introduced to the UK in 1902 and is named after the director of the St Petersburg Botanic Garden Albert Regel. Its conical habit make it useful avenue or street tree. Our specimens are shaped as standard trees on long clear stems.

This is a deciduous hybrid of bird cherry that grows naturally in a conical form. In spring, its unusual flowers hang in long racemes of bright white five-petalled blooms with yellow centres. These bunched swaying flowers measure 18cms in length and are attractive to pollinators who gather in large numbers to search for nectar. Flowers bloom as the foliage appears giving off a sweet scent. As summer progresses the flowers turn into small black fruits that birds love.

The leaves are narrow, pointed ovals with a serrated edging. They emerge mid-green and turn rich autumnal shades of yellow and red before falling in the winter months. Its bark is grey-brown and smells of bitter almonds if damaged.

In summer its conical shape points skyward particularly when the tree is young. As it matures, the oval shape emerges. Because of this tidy, upward pointing form it is a great ornamental flowering tree for smaller spaces.

Height and Width of Prunus Padus Albertii
A mid-sized tree Bird Cherry Albertii will reach a mature height of 7-13 metres and spread over approximately four metres. Albertii has a very free-flowing form. It is a good choice for small gardens or walkways. It can be kept smaller with pruning.

How Hardy is Prunus Padus Albertii
Bird cherry trees are particularly hardy, and Bird Cherry Albertii is no exception. It will survive subzero winters throughout Europe flowering each spring with renewed vigour.

How To Use Prunus Padus Albertii
This is a medium-sized ornamental cherry for smaller spaces such as a verge, hedge-line or small garden. It looks spectacular as a specimen tree in the lawn. Its freely flowering nature attracts pollinators, and its dark cherries attract fruit loving birds, making it a good buy for a wildlife garden too.

How To Care for Prunus Padus Albertii
All ornamental cherries love full sun, so if you can find a sunny south-facing spot you’ll get the best flowering display. However, bird cherries are tough and they will grow in most conditions. Any soil is suitable, including alkaline chalky soils, but it will grow at a slower pace on poorer soils. Boost yours with well-rotted manure in the planting hole and a thick layer of mulch each year.

Prunus Padus Albertii will tolerate compacted soils and waterlogged soil within reason, making it a good choice for temporarily flooded areas, but it won’t flourish in consistently boggy grounds. This is a low maintenance tree that requires no pruning, but if you want to remove crossed or broken branches do so in the winter.

If you have a restricted space but still want a flowering tree, Prunus Padus Albertii is a beautiful choice. Its flowers are spectacular and its growth habit is upright and tidy.