Biology & Invasive Potential Contact Information For plant alternatives or if you are • Trimming & cutting European Bird Cherry outside of Anchorage contact: stimulates growth! State of Alaska - Department of Natural Resources Invasive • Root suckers & fallen trees can create Plant Materials Center Invasive Plants Program Coordinator thickets of new trees [email protected] • Can create defense chemicals called www.plants.alaska.gov cyanogenic glycosides 907-745-8721 • In rare circumstances, these trees can cause Alert! For control and removal volunteer cyanide poisoning of moose opportunities in Anchorage: Anchorage Park Foundation [email protected] 907-339-0101 For additional information: UAF Cooperative Extension Service (Outside of Anchorage) 1-877-520-5211 (In Anchorage) 907-786-6315 [email protected] www.alaskainvasives.org 1-877-INVASIV (468-2748) Distribution & Abundance Published by the Alaska Plant Materials Center, February 2015 • Native to Northern Europe and Asia • Survives prolonged temperatures to -33°F • The northern most extent in Alaska is the south side of the Brooks Range, north of the Arctic Circle • In Alaska, it has been planted in residential European Bird Cherry landscapes, parks, and a few remote cabins Prunus padus • It is rapidly invading riparian stream sides and natural forests in Anchorage and Fairbanks Alternate Names: • Takes over the understory of forests and Chokecherry, Mayday tree forms thickets where native plants once grew © Anneli Salo Identification Management & Control European Bird Cherry (Prunus padus) is a small deciduous tree Cutting alone is not an effective solution also known as the Chokecherry or Mayday tree. because this tree readily re-sprouts from Growth stumps, stems, and roots (including fragments)! • Grows up to 35 feet tall • Sprouts from its trunk, Flowers • Flowers are white, Seedlings and small trees can be pulled by hand. stems, & roots when cut small, & very aromatic Trees up to 2” in diameter can be removed with • Is rounded in shape, has TM” low branching crowns, • Flowers are arranged a tool called an “Uprooter as shown below. & its multi-stemmed in drooping cylindrical Note that ALL of the roots must be removed, and clusters called racemes growth can form the tree disposed of, or it will re-sprout! dense thickets • In Alaska, blooms are seen between late May and early June Bark • Bark is grey to brown & relatively smooth Fruits • Visible pores on the • Small, bitter black cherries bark are called lenticels Leaves ripen in late summer • Leaves are ovate, • Birds eat the elliptical, & thinning at the tip cherries & spread • Leaves are dark green with 2 the seeds to small glands at the base of the stem new areas • Edges of the leaves are sharply serrated Alternative Ornamental Trees for Alaska * A few suggested varieties are listed below. Other alternatives can be found at www.alaskaplants.org. Choose a variety that corresponds with your hardiness zone. Systemic herbicides are the most effective way to control European Bird Cherry because they are absorbed directly into the tree’s vascular system to kill ALL parts of the plant so it cannot re-sprout. Certain herbicides can be applied to a cut stump to prevent the stump and roots from sprouting. UAF Ussurian Pear (Pyrus ussuriensis) Serviceberry (Amelanchier) Crab Apple (Malus spp.) Hawthorn (Crataegus) has are the first trees to bloom has edible fruit that matures cultivars vary in flower color as beautiful fragrant, small, pink or Cooperative Extension can provide additional & have bright fall colors in to sweet blue-black berries & white, pink, or maroon. Many white flowers, & black berries Southcentral Alaska. makes delicious pies and jams. have great fall colors & produce called haws. Fall colors change information on herbicides or a commercial Suggested variety for Alaska: Suggested varieties for Alaska: sweet fruit for jelly or sauce. from bright orange to red. pesticide applicator certified in Alaska can be P. ussuriensis A. alnifolia, A. canadensis Suggested varieties for Alaska: Suggested variety for Alaska: M. x ranetka, M. x ‘Selkirk’, C. x mordenensis ‘Toba’, hired to apply herbicides for you. .