Black Cherry
Prunus serotina · Deciduous Broadleaf Hardwood
Plant Family
Rosaceae
Tree Category
Fruit, Nut, Forest, and Timber Tree
Variety / Cultivar
Wild/Natural variety (no specific cultivar assigned to the specimen shown)
Hardiness Zones
USDA Zones 3 through 9; highly adaptable to a wide range of temperate climates.
About This Tree
A medium to large forest tree with a narrow, oblong crown and drooping branches. It is fast-growing when young and reaches a majestic spreading form at maturity. It produces white raceme flowers and small dark purple drupes.
Leaf Characteristics
Simple, alternate, 2-5 inches long; elliptical to lanceolate shape; finely serrated margins; glossy dark green above, paler beneath with reddish-brown hairs along the midrib near the base; turns yellow to orange-red in fall.
Bark Characteristics
Distinctive 'burnt cornflakes' appearance on mature trees: dark grey to black, breaking into small, brittle, upturned plates. Young bark is smooth, reddish-brown with prominent horizontal lenticels.
Growing Information
Origin Region
Eastern North America, ranging from eastern Canada through the United States to Mexico and Guatemala.
Growing Season
Leafs out in mid-spring; flowers late spring (May-June); fruits ripen in late summer (August-September); enters dormancy in late autumn.
Sunlight & Water Needs
Full sun preferred; moderate water needs; adaptable to various soil moistures but performs best in well-drained, fertile loams; moderate drought tolerance once established.
Mature Size
Height of 50-80 feet with a spread of 30-60 feet; growth rate is moderate to fast; lifespan typically 100-150 years; trunk diameter up to 2-4 feet.
Special Characteristics
Highly valued for fine furniture timber (deep reddish-brown heartwood); leaves and twigs contain cyanogenic glycosides which are toxic to livestock; fruits are edible and used for jellies and flavoring; distinctive 'bitter almond' scent when twigs are crushed.
Wildlife & Ecology
High ecological value. Provides nectar for honeybees and butterflies; host plant for Eastern Tiger Swallowtail larvae; fruits are a critical food source for numerous birds (robins, waxwings) and mammals (bears, raccoons).