In the wild, root suckers often develop around mature trees and eventually grow as large as the parents, forming clumps or small woodlands. Gean is easy to establish. For a broad leaved tree, it has a short rotation or growing life and may become senile by 60. Gean trunk Royal Forestry Society Newly planted saplings are sensitive to competition from weeds so need weeding in the early establishment years. They respond well in tree shelters which protect them from browsing deer and provide a favourable micro-climate.
Cherries are prone to bacterial canker.
Stem and branch wounds may exude a curious clear, protective, yellowish gum reminiscent of resin in conifers but without the smell. Cherry wood goes mainly for furniture making with large logs sliced into decorative veneers. Smokers once cherished their cherry wood pipes and a few are still made. Cherries cultivated for their fruit are derived from two species - the sweet ones are P. avium and the acid morello varieties are P. cerasus . Duke cherries are probably crosses between these two.