The message
from Victoria Clare contains these words:

I have some young trees I planted in pots a couple of years ago as seeds.

I am fairly sure they are either cornelian cherry (cornus mas), or cherry
plum (prunus cerasifera). But I can't remember which, and I've lost the
label and the packet!

Anyone able to suggest how I could tell, given that they are only about 5
inches tall?

They have very slim leaves, smooth and untoothed, tapering to a pointed
tip, and placed alternately along the tiny trunks. Each leaf has a couple
of tiny green spurs at the base of the stalk. Young leaves are a bright
beech green, but quickly darken to a mid to dark green.

The bark, what there is of it on such tiny trees, is brown and smooth.

Any help would be appreciated!


I think you have Prunus cerasifera if you're sure it's one or the other.
I have just been to look at the two young trees I have - one of each.
Cornus mas can't be right because the leaves grow in pairs, not
alternately.

Prunus cerasifera has two tiny leaf bits at the base of the stalk (are
they called rachis?) whereas Cornus mas doesn't.

However, my Prunus cerasifera which is about five years old doesn't have
*very* slim leaves and they are definitely toothed. Perhaps comparative
fatness of leaves and serration comes with greater maturity.

Other features of Cornus mas leaves are that they are smooth and
unserrated with conspicuous veins which run parallel to each other
without branching. They run parallel to the edge of the leaf at the top
and almost join again in the centre (hope that makes sense)

Janet G