Prunus serotina var. serotina
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus se-roh-TEE-nuh se-roh-TEE-nuh
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
-
Eastern Black Cherry a native deciduous tree that is the eastern variety of P. serotina found in open forested areas, rich coves, dry to mesic habitats of lower elevation, woodland edges, savanahs and areas with adequate sunlight. This plant has a low soil compaction tolerance but is heat tolerant. This plant grows best in natural areas and is a common host for the Tent Caterpillar.
Eastern Black Cherry provides food for many many types of birds and mammals and is a host plant to many moths and butterflies.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- serotina
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The wood is used in furniture making and prized for its red color.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Wildlife Value:
- This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Fruits eaten by many birds and mammals. Host plant to many butterflies and moths.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 50 ft. 0 in. - 90 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 20 ft. 0 in. - 30 ft. 0 in.
-
-
Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
-
-
Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
-
-
Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available July-August and ripen from green to red to black.
-
-
Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Description:
- White flowers in racemes any time from from April-May appear after leaves emerge.
-
-
Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblanceolate
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Crenate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Dark green simple alternate, oblecolate to ovate leaves with crenate to serrate margins, acuminate tips and cuneate bases.
-
-
Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
-
-
Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Small Mammals
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
-
-
Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- High
- Poison Symptoms:
- All parts but the fruits are poisonus. gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin, prussic acid.
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Bark
- Flowers
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Stems
