Shelterbelt Varieties for Alberta - Mayday, European Bird Cherry

Plant Characteristics

Mayday is a small deciduous, usually multi-stemmed tree. It can grow to a mature height of 5 to 10 m (15 to 30 ft), and a spread of 6 m (20 ft). It has an annual growth rate of 15 to 60 cm (6 to 24 in.) and has a useful life of 12 to 50 years.

Mayday is naturally low-headed with ascending branches. It is one of the first trees to leaf out in the spring.

Bark - Mature bark is gun metal' grey.

Flowers - Flowers are white and very fragrant and appear in May after the leaves have emerged.

Fruit - Black berries, 6 to 8 mm (0.25 in.) in diameter, appear in late summer. Astringent taste.

Leaves - Leaves are alternate, dark green above, lighter below; elliptic to obovate, 6 to 12 cm (2 to 5 in.) long. The margin is coarsely and sharply serrate.

Propagated by seed.

Fall Colour

Leaves are yellow, but some years they appear with a little red.

Site Preference

Mayday has a wide soil adaptation with some drought resistance. It prefers half shade to full sun locations.

Hardiness

Hardy to northern Alberta.
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Uses

Suitable for large yards, parks, specimens, mass plantings, or shelterbelts. In shelterbelts mayday should be planted 1 to 3 m (3 to 10 ft) between trees in the row and 5 to 8 m (17 to 26 ft) between rows.

Problems

Fruit in late July can stain concrete.

Diseases

Susceptible to black knot (fungus). Control by pruning and burning removed portions.

Insects

Forest tent caterpillars

Aphids (in August)

Pruning

Prune to remove dead, diseased or broken branches.
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Shelterbelts Varieties for Alberta provides information on a number of other trees and shrubs than may be suitable for shelterbelts.

For information about planning shelterbelts and choosing varieties, contact your local PFRA office or visit PFRA's home page.

For more information about Mayday, European Bird Cherry for use in shelterbelts, call your local nursery or visit the Alberta Sheltberbelt Program page on the Marketland web site.