Fragrant wood and tasty stone fruits for birds in autumn
The rock cherry, also known as the mahaleb cherry, is found predominantly in the warmer, wine-growing regions. Its numerous fragrant white blossoms in April and May provide food for bees, and the small drupes that appear afterward are very popular with birds – the bitter fruits are inedible for humans. In the eastern Mediterranean, the kernels are ground and sold as a spice called mahalb. This small, deciduous tree, which only reaches a height of two to six meters, emits a very pleasant fragrance from its young shoots due to their high coumarin content.
Natural habitat: The rock cherry originates in the northern Mediterranean region, specifically in Morocco, Spain, and southern France, and extends as far as Asia Minor. However, it can now also be found in the warmer regions of the Kaiserstuhl and along the Nahe River.
