Bitter Cherry

Bitter cherry is a native small tree and large shrub of Western Washington's open woodlands and stream corridors, a deciduous species with small white flowers in spring and small red cherries (ripening to black) that attract birds. The bark is smooth, reddish-brown, with prominent horizontal lenticels. The leaves are elliptical, finely toothed, and slightly fragrant when crushed (the scent is bitter or almond-like). The tree reaches 20-50 feet in open sites and grows more shrubby and smaller in shade. The wood is bitter-tasting, hence the common name. The species is often multi-stemmed and forms thickets, especially after disturbance.

In Western Washington, bitter cherry is a useful native pioneer for erosion control, wildlife habitat, and understory development. The tree grows rapidly in full sun with moist, well-drained soils and is tolerant of poor, disturbed soils. The small red fruits ripen to black and provide food for birds and mammals. The tree is susceptible to numerous diseases and insects, particularly cherry slug, aphids, and various canker diseases, but these rarely kill established trees. The short lifespan (40-60 years) and susceptibility to disease mean using this species with the expectation of eventual replacement or succession to longer-lived species. In restoration plantings and riparian work, bitter cherry is invaluable for rapid establishment and wildlife value. In residential landscapes, plant it where its shorter lifespan and multiple-stem habit are assets rather than liabilities, in naturalized areas or as part of mixed shrub-tree compositions where replacement is planned as the landscape matures.