Mahaleb Cherry
Prunus mahaleb
- Native to:
- Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, East Aegean Is., France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kirgizstan, Krym, Lebanon-Syria, Morocco, North Caucasus, NW. Balkan Pen., Pakistan, Portugal, Romania, Sicilia, Spain, Switzerland, Tadzhikistan, Transcaucasus, Türkiye, Türkiye-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan
Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- Prunus mahaleb
- USDA Symbol:
- PRMA
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 1200 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- apr,may
- Bloom Colors:
- white
- Landscaping Shrub:
- Yes
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★★★★★ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
clear dagger moth (Acronicta clarescens), hibiscus Quaker (Orthosia hibisci)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees
- Fragrant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- yellow
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- calcareous, well-drained rocky soil
- pH:
- 7.0 - 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- thrives on limestone-rich soils
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Warm then cold/moist stratification (double dormancy) — 90–150 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–60 days
- Notes:
- Requires warm stratification (60-90 days) followed by cold stratification (90-120 days). Double dormancy common in Prunus.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI