BLACK CHERRY
Prunus serotina

Height:40-60’ Width: 20-40’ Hardiness Zone: 3 Exposure: sun or partial shade Origin: Central and Eastern United States and Canada

Description:

Black Cherry is a medium sized tree valued for its timber and as a source of food for birds. It has a pyramidal form when young, developing a narrow-oval crown and semi-pendulous branches as it matures. The bark of Black Cherry is shiny reddish brown, becoming dark gray-black and scaly on mature trunks. Black Cherry’s leaves are glossy dark green, turning attractive shades of yellow-orange to red in the fall. Blooming in the spring, Black Cherry bears numerous 4-6” long pendulous clusters of small white flowers. The clusters of 1/3” diameter fruits turn red then ripen to purplish black in late summer to early fall. The fruits can be harvested and used to make jelly or wine. They also provide a good source of food for birds and other wildlife.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Black Cherry tolerates a range of soil conditions. Best growth occurs on moist, fertile soil but it also grows well in drier, gravelly soils. The soil should have good drainage. Black Cherry is well suited to naturalized areas and for plantings to provide bird and wildlife food. Birds do widely distribute the seeds and seedlings can be a nuisance in cultivated gardens.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Black Cherry has few serious problems, though several insects including tent caterpillars can damage the foliage. Fall webworm is common in the northeast in late summer and is usually more prevalent on black cherry than most other tree species. Trunk borers are also possible.

Related Species

Prunus pensylvanica – Pin Cherry is a small native tree, growing 20-30’ tall and 15-20’ wide. It produces masses of small white flowers in spring, followed by sour red fruits that are eaten by birds. Fall color ranges from yellow to red. Good for naturalized areas.

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org