The bird cherry’s reputation has shifted between protection and misfortune throughout history.
Small ermine moth caterpillars often defoliate the tree, wrapping it in ghostly white silk shrouds.
In nature, the bird cherry serves as a central hub for a complex "mini-ecosystem".
The emerging moths become a vital protein source for baby bats precisely when they are weaning, while the late-summer berries sustain birds like thrushes and blackbirds. Folklore and Myth
Remarkably, the tree is adapted to grow a second flush of leaves once the caterpillars have turned into cocoons.
