Fruit trees have been faithful companions of Czech gardens and orchards since time immemorial – apple trees blossoming on the slopes of the Šumava, pear trees beside remote South Moravian farmsteads, cherry avenues along the Elbe. But their story does not end with the fruit: the wood of fruit trees is among the most beautiful and valuable materials our native nature has to offer. In this guide you will learn how to recognise individual fruit trees, what properties their wood has and what it is good for – from kitchen spoons to turned decorations.
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Every fruit tree has its own unique character – not only in the taste of its fruit, but also in the texture and colour of its wood. Below we take a detailed look at the five most widespread species, which can be found in orchards from the Krkonoše to South Moravia.
Domestic apple – Malus domestica
The domestic apple is undoubtedly the most widespread fruit tree in the Czech Republic. It grows 5–15 metres tall, its crown spreads widely, and in April it is covered with pinkish-white, five-petalled flowers. It is grown from the lowlands up to altitudes of over 700 m – in the Krkonoše, for example, there are old traditional orchards even at 800 m above sea level. Apple trees are cross-pollinated and need other varieties nearby for successful pollination.
Apple wood is one of the densest native woods of all. It has a beautiful dark brown heartwood with pinkish sapwood, and when steamed it takes on a warm reddish tone. Thanks to the contrast between heartwood and sapwood, it is much sought after by carvers and turners. Apple wood is suitable for making bowls and plates, kitchen utensils, tool handles or decorative figurines. Apple branches are also excellent for smoking meat – they give it a delicate, fruity aroma.
Common pear – Pyrus communis
The common pear tends to be slender and upright, growing up to 20 metres tall, and you can recognise it in the landscape from afar by its snow-white blossom at the beginning of April – even before it is fully in leaf. It thrives best in the warmer lowlands and hills, from the Elbe lowlands through the Haná region to South Moravia, where centuries-old pear avenues are even protected.
Among fruit woods, pear is renowned for its exceptional hardness and stability – once dry, it hardly warps at all. Its pinkish colour and fine texture without prominent growth rings make it an ideal material for turning, carving and woodcuts. In the past, pear wood was used for moulds for hand-blown glass and for drawing instruments. Today it is prized for furniture, musical instruments and toys. If you are interested in products made from native woods, take a look at AMADEA's kitchen utensils.
Wild cherry – Prunus avium
The wild cherry is the boldest of the group – in the wild it grows up to 35 metres tall and is also one of the native forest species, growing scattered from the lowlands to the foothills. Its white blossom in April–May is one of the first spectacles of spring, and in autumn its leaves turn blood red. Wild cherries differ from garden varieties by their smaller, sourer fruit.
Cherry wood is strong and flexible and highly valued for its reddish-brown colour. Its texture is reminiscent of mahogany, yet it is available from native sources. It is used in furniture making, for veneers, in carving and turning. Cherry-wood pipes, picture frames and serving boards are very popular. The wood should be protected from direct sunlight – otherwise it darkens over time. Even so, it is one of the finest native woods, and its price reflects that.
Plum – Prunus domestica
The plum is probably a spontaneous hybrid that arose somewhere in the Caucasus, but it has been grown in what is now the Czech Republic for many centuries. It grows as a small tree or shrub, flowers white early in spring and bears purple to dark blue drupes with a characteristic waxy bloom. In South Moravia, the Elbe lowlands and the Ohře region, plum orchards are an integral part of the landscape.
Plum wood is exceptionally hard and dense, with an attractive figure similar to walnut. It is sought after above all by carvers and jewellery makers – it is suitable for wooden jewellery, handles, small decorative objects and kitchen spoons. At AMADEA you will even find spoons made of plum wood as a typical product from a native wood. Plum branches are also popular for smoking meat, giving a stronger flavour than apple.
Common walnut – Juglans regia
The common walnut is the largest and most massive fruit tree; in Czech gardens it reaches heights of 25 metres and lives for centuries. It originally comes from the mountains of Central Asia and reached Europe as early as antiquity. In the Czech Republic it does best in the warmer South Moravia and Central Bohemia – around Louny, Mělník or Znojmo, growing walnuts is a tradition.
Walnut wood is considered one of the most beautiful and valuable native woods. Its dark greyish-brown heartwood with striking veining is often compared to exotic hardwoods. The wood is strong, works well and is used for luxury furniture, staircases, panelling and veneers. If you are looking for elegant wooden bowls or accessories made of walnut, take a look at the AMADEA range. An important detail: the leaves and green husks of walnuts contain juglone, which can inhibit the growth of other plants around the tree.
The most common mix-ups and misconceptions about fruit trees
Beginners sometimes confuse fruit trees with related species. Here are the three most common mix-ups to watch out for.
Wild crab apples have smaller, sour fruit (up to 3 cm across), dense, often thorny branches and leaves that are not felted. The cultivated domestic apple is much larger, has no thorns, and its leaves are slightly felted underneath. Crab apple wood is even harder, but less readily available.
The sour cherry is smaller (up to 8 m), produces suckers, and its fruit is sourer and juicy dark red. The wild cherry grows into a tall tree (up to 35 m) with sweeter fruit. Wild cherry leaves have glands on the leaf stalk – in sour cherries they are absent or inconspicuous. Sour cherry wood is good for smoking, sweet cherry wood for joinery.
Blackthorn is a wild, very thorny shrub with small, sour fruit (about 1 cm across). The plum is a small tree without thorns and with much larger fruit. Both have white flowers that appear before the leaves, but blackthorn flowers more densely and earlier. Blackthorn wood is extremely hard, but hard to obtain in pieces large enough for woodworking.
Comparing fruit trees – a quick overview
| Tree | Latin name | Height | Flowering time | Wood hardness | Main uses of the wood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🍎 Apple | Malus domestica | 5–15 m | April–May | very hard | turning, utensils, smoking |
| 🍐 Pear | Pyrus communis | up to 20 m | early April | very hard | carving, veneers, furniture |
| 🍒 Cherry | Prunus avium | up to 35 m | April–May | hard, flexible | furniture, joinery, veneers |
| 🫐 Plum | Prunus domestica | up to 10 m | March–April | very hard | jewellery, carving, smoking |
| 🌰 Walnut | Juglans regia | up to 25 m | April–May | hard, stable | luxury furniture, veneers, panelling |
Frequently asked questions about fruit trees
Which fruit trees are most commonly grown in the Czech Republic?
The most widespread fruit trees in the Czech Republic are the domestic apple, the common pear, the wild (sweet) cherry and the plum. The common walnut is less common, but in the warmer areas of Moravia and Central Bohemia it is a permanent part of the landscape.
Can wood from felled fruit trees be processed at home?
Yes – but it takes patience. Apple wood is dried slowly, buried in wood shavings, so that it does not crack. Pear, on the other hand, should first be sawn into planks and air-dried. Cherry and plum dry faster, but even so, expect years of drying before joinery work.
Why are fruit tree branches good for smoking?
Apple, cherry and plum branches contain resins and aromatic substances that release a delicate fruity smoke as they smoulder. This gives meat its typical aroma. Plum and cherry give a stronger smoke, apple a milder and sweeter one.
Are pome fruits and stone fruits botanically related?
Both groups belong to the rose family (Rosaceae), but they belong to different genera. Apple and pear are the genera Malus and Pyrus, while cherry and plum belong to the genus Prunus. The walnut (Juglans) is a completely separate genus from the walnut family (Juglandaceae).
Does AMADEA make products from fruit wood?
AMADEA focuses on Czech wooden products made from native woods. Our range includes, for example, plum-wood spoons, serving boards and bowls made of solid wood. Every product is handmade in the Czech Republic.
🍎 Bring nature into your kitchen. Choose products made from the wood of fruit trees – plum-wood spoons, boards, bowls and more Czech handmade work.
View kitchen productsAuthor: Martin Portych – specialist in wooden products, gift advice and shop content
Editorial policy: Our content is based on the day-to-day practice of the AMADEA shop, the real needs of our customers and a commitment to clear, useful and trustworthy information.