Prunus serrula: Country Or Region Of Origin
China
Plant Profile: Prunus serrula
Names
Birch Bark Cherry, Paperbark Cherry, Tibetan Cherry
Phonetic Spelling:PROO-nus ser-oo-LAH
Genus:Prunus
Species:serrula
Family:
The Tibetan Cherry features glossy, smooth red-brown bark and originates from China. It is a perennial plant suitable for hardiness zones 5 to 6 and thrives in the mountainous regions of North Carolina.
For optimal growth, it prefers rich, well-drained soil and can flourish in full sun to partial shade. Its bark serves as the most decorative element, enhancing the winter landscape.
Prunus serrula Feature Summary
Tags
#deciduous
#wildlife plant
#smooth bark
#shiny
#larval host plant
#butterfly friendly
#problem for cats
#pollinator garden
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly
Similar Plants
Prunus serrula Feature Summary
Attributes
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
Fruit
0.5 in. red fruit
Drupe
Red/Burgundy
Edible
Spring
< 1 inch
Flowers
0.6 in. white flowers singly or in 2-4 flower umbrels in late spring
White
Spring
< 1 inch
Leaves
2 to 4 in. alternate, simple leaves with serrated margins
Deciduous
Simple
Alternate
Serrate
3-6 inches
Bark
Glistening, red brown to mahogany like bark with horizontal lenticles.
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Smooth
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Deciduous
Rounded
Pyramidal
Medium
Medium
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Good Drainage
Mountains
5b
5a
6a
6b
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Winter Garden
Flowering Tree
Butterflies
Pollinators
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Prunus serrula Image Gallery
Prunus serrula Attributes
Prunus serrula: Wildlife Value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.
Prunus serrula Fruit
Prunus serrula: Fruit Description
0.5 in. red fruit
Prunus serrula: Fruit Type
Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua
Prunus serrula: Fruit Color
Red/Burgundy
Prunus serrula: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Prunus serrula: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Prunus serrula: Fruit Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches
Prunus serrula Flowers
Prunus serrula: Flower Description
0.6 in. white flowers singly or in 2-4 flower umbrels in late spring
Prunus serrula: Flower Color
White
Prunus serrula: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Prunus serrula: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Prunus serrula: Flower Size
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches
Prunus serrula Leaves
Prunus serrula: Leaf Description
2 to 4 in. alternate, simple leaves with serrated margins
Prunus serrula: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus serrula: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Prunus serrula: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Prunus serrula: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Prunus serrula: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Prunus serrula: Leaf Length
< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches
Prunus serrula Bark
Prunus serrula: Bark Description
Glistening, red brown to mahogany like bark with horizontal lenticles.
Prunus serrula: Bark Color
Dark Brown
Red/Burgundy
Prunus serrula: Surface/Attachment
Bumpy
Exfoliating
Fissured
Furrowed
Lenticels
Papery
Patchy
Peeling
Ridges
Scaly
Shaggy
Shiny
Shredding
Smooth
Spongy
Prunus serrula Whole Plant Traits
Prunus serrula: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Prunus serrula: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus serrula: Habit/Form
Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping
Prunus serrula: Growth Rate
Slow
Medium
Rapid
Prunus serrula: Texture
Fine
Medium
Coarse
Prunus serrula Cultural Conditions
Prunus serrula: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Prunus serrula: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Prunus serrula: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Prunus serrula: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone
5a
5b
6a
6b
Prunus serrula Stem
Prunus serrula: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Prunus serrula Landscape
Prunus serrula: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Prunus serrula: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Prunus serrula: Landscape Location
Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland
Prunus serrula: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Prunus serrula: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
