General: The Mahaleb Cherry or Sour Cherry is native to Europe and western Asia. In Germany, however, it is rarely found, as it requires a lot of light and warmth. Due to these location requirements, its natural distribution area is only the Rhine Valley, the Northern Palatinate and the Danube Valley. Here, the Mahaleb Cherry usually grows sparsely and spreading as a large shrub or small tree with a height of up to 10 meters. The leaves are roundish to oval and shiny. Before the leaves emerge (April), the white, decorative and fragrant flowers appear. The flowers subsequently develop into small dark red to black fruits. The wood and bark of the cherry have a pleasant and aromatic fragrance when dried. For this reason, the plant was used to make pipe pipes and walking sticks. The ground seeds are also very aromatic and are still used as a spice in Greece.
Care as a bonsai: The Mahaleb Cherry is very hardy and tolerant of pruning. It quickly develops fine branching and delights with its fragrant flowers. As in nature, it prefers a bright and warm location. The Mahaleb Cherry should be watered and fertilized regularly as needed. However, an acidic and waterlogged substrate must be avoided. In winter it should be protected from too low temperatures.
