Prunus avium L.

A deciduous tree up to 60 ft or more high, with a trunk occasionally 2 ft and upwards in diameter, the bark shining and peeling horizontally; young twigs glabrous. Leaves ovate to oval with a drawn-out point, 3 to 5 in. long, 11⁄2 to 2 in. wide (sometimes considerably larger on vigorous young trees), rather coarsely and irregularly toothed, hairy along the veins and midrib beneath; leaf-stalk 1 to 13⁄4 in. long, with reddish glands near the blade. Flowers pure white, about 1 in. across, produced on stalks from 1 to 13⁄4 in. long, in stalkless clusters from the previous year’s shoots, and from spur-like branches of earlier date. Fruits round, blackish red, 3⁄4 in. in diameter, sweet or bitter but not acid.

Native of Europe, including Britain, and one of the parents of cultivated fruiting cherries, especially the black ones. In the woodland the gean is very desirable, and in suitable places makes a big tree; in plantations separated from the house by a valley it might be planted in numbers for its effect in April and early May, but in the garden itself it should give place to the improved varieties. There was a good deal of confusion in botanical works between this species and P. cerasus. But P. avium differs from P. cerasus in the following respects: it is a tree sometimes of full middle size (the other is more or less dwarf or shrubby); the leaves are more coarsely toothed and hairy beneath; the fruit is not acid.

Elwes and Henry record specimens of the gean nearly 100 ft in height and others with girths of up to 12 ft (more at the base). It is doubtful if any of these are still living. The following have been recorded recently and no doubt there are many others of comparable size: Borde Hill, Sussex, 70 × 101⁄4 ft (1968); Elvetham Park, Hants, 65 × 121⁄2 ft (1963); Studley Royal, Yorks., 55 × 143⁄4 ft (1963); Smeaton, E. Lothian, 50 × 103⁄4 ft at 3 ft (1967). On deep, moist soil the gean and its double variety are fast growing, both in height and girth.

The gean is the usual stock for both the orchard cherries and many of the ornamentals (notably the Sato Zakura); mostly selected clones are used, propagated by layers or by root-cuttings.

None of the following garden varieties is of any importance, except ‘Plena’: cv.‘Asplenifolia’. – Leaves deeply and irregularly toothed. ‘Laciniata’ is the same or very similar.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

The remarkable tree at Studley Royal, Yorkshire, is still in good health and measures 60 × 171⁄2 ft (1984).