Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific' (Cherry 'Bedford Prolific')

Botanical name

Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific'

Other names

Cherry 'Bedford Prolific', Wild cherry 'Bedford Prolific', Sweet cherry 'Bedford Prolific', Black cherry 'Bedford Prolific', Prunus avium 'Sheppard’s Bedford Prolific', Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific A'

Genus

Prunus Prunus

Variety or Cultivar

'Bedford Prolific' _ 'Bedford Prolific' is a spreading, deciduous fruit tree with ovate to oblong, toothed, dark green leaves turning orange and red in autumn and nodding, white flowers in early to mid-spring followed by glossy, spherical, edible, dark maroon fruit ready for harvest in midsummer.

Foliage

Deciduous

Habit

Compact, Spreading

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Colour

Flower

White in Spring

Foliage

Dark-green in Spring; Dark-green in Summer; Red, Orange in Autumn

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Leaf mining moths , Bullfinches , Caterpillars , Aphids

Specific diseases

Bacterial canker , Blossom wilt , Silver leaf

General care

Pruning

Pruning group 1. Prune in midsummer in areas where silver leaf is a problem. Train fan-trained trees in spring with routine pruning in summer during fruit harvest.

Propagation methods

Softwood cuttings, Budding, Grafting

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific' (Cherry 'Bedford Prolific') will reach a height of 6m and a spread of 6m after 5-10 years.

Suggested uses

Cottage/Informal, Flavouring food and drinks, Low Maintenance, Specimen tree, Wallside and trellises

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile soil in full sun. Self-sterile so needs to be pollinated by a different cultivar. Flowering group 5. Rootstock determines final height. Overwatering will cause fruit split.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Full Sun

Aspect

North, South, East, West

Exposure

Exposed, Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific' (Cherry 'Bedford Prolific')

Common pest name

grape ground pearl

Scientific pest name

Margarodes vitis

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

Main pathway; Vitis spp. plants for planting; already prohibited. However; further consideration of other pathways is required.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific' (Cherry 'Bedford Prolific')

Common pest name

Chlorotic leafroll of apricot; Chlorotic leafroll of nectarine; Chlorotic leafroll of peach; Decline of Japanese plum; Decline of peach; Dieback of apricot; European stone fruit yellows; European yellows of peach; Italian rosette of peach; Leptonecrosis of plum; MoliŠres disease of cherry; Vein clearing of peach; Vein enlargement of peach

Scientific pest name

Candidatus Phytoplasma prunorum

Type

Phytoplasma

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

5

General biosecurity comments

EU regulation appears satisfactory for UK; willing to participate in future review of EU listing.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Prunus avium 'Bedford Prolific' (Cherry 'Bedford Prolific')

Common pest name

Peach red-necked longhorn; Plum and peach longhorn; red-necked longhorn

Scientific pest name

Aromia bungii

Type

Insect

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

A pest mainly of Prunus previously intercepted in the UK on wooden packaging imported from China. There have been longstanding outbreaks of the pest in Italy; a source of significant trade in plants for instant landscapes; and also findings in Germany. The UK will press for early EU regulation and consider UK national measures if risk increases.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/