Black Cherry (or Sweet Birch based on bark)
Prunus serotina · Deciduous, Broadleaf, Hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Forest Tree, Shade Tree, Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild type / native species
Hardiness Zones
USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9; highly adaptable to various climatic extremes across eastern North America.
About This Tree
A medium to large forest tree growing up to 50-80 feet tall with a narrow, oblong to rounded crown. Younger trunks and limbs feature smooth silvery-gray to reddish-brown bark marked with pronounced horizontal lenticels, while mature trunks develop distinctive dark, broken, cornflake-like scales. Produces small white flowers in drooping racemes followed by small dark purple-black cherries.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, oblong-ovate to lanceolate, 2-5 inches long. Finely serrated margins with incurved teeth. Upper surface glossy dark green, underside paler with rusty-pubescent hair along the midrib near the base. Leaves turn brilliant yellow to orange-red in autumn.
Bark Characteristics
Smooth, reddish-brown to dark gray when young, heavily marked with prominent horizontal lenticels (pores) as clearly seen in the image. With age, it breaks into characteristic dark, rough, scaly plates often described as looking like burnt cornflakes.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America, from southern Canada down to Florida and west to Texas and Minnesota
Growing Season
Leafs out early spring (April); flowers bloom late spring (May); fruits mature late summer (August-September); enters dormancy in late autumn
Sunlight & Water Needs
Requires full sun to partial shade for optimal growth; prefers moist, deep, fertile, well-drained soils, but has moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Mature height of 50-80 feet (occasionally up to 100 feet in dense forests), canopy spread of 30-50 feet. Fast growth rate when young, maturing over a lifespan of 100-150 years. Trunk diameter reaches 2-4 feet.
Special Characteristics
Highly prized timber species producing valuable reddish-brown wood used for high-end furniture and cabinetry. Foliage and twigs contain hydrocyanic acid (cyanogenic glycosides) which can be toxic to livestock when leaves are wilted. Features distinctive aromatic bark when crushed.
Wildlife & Ecology
Crucial ecological plant that supports over 400 species of native caterpillars, butterflies, and moths. The dark red-black summer fruits are a major food source for dozens of songbird species, wild turkeys, mammals, and black bears.