Flora - Indigenous melliferous plants: wild cherry (Prunus avium)

Flora – Indigenous melliferous plants

Wild cherry (Prunus avium)

The cultivated domestic cherry is one of the few fruit trees whose wild-growing ancestors are indigenous to Europe. It is a medium-sized tree that is easy to spot in forests and woodland when it blossoms at the end of April. Its flowers are white and numerous and a good source of springtime nectar for bees. The cherry is a member of the rose family (Rosaceae). The small fruits of the wild cherry have a tart-sweet taste and are used for making brandy, fruit teas, liqueurs, jams, and so on. Its young leaves and stalks have a medicinal effect. Most prized of all is the tree’s reddish wood, which is highly valued and is also used to make veneers.

Mitja Kaligarič