Prunus serotina
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- PROO-nus seh-roh-TEE-nuh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Black cherry is a woody, deciduous tree in the rose family (Rosaceae). It has a conical habit and is a rapid grower capable of reaching 60 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 60 feet wide. It is found in all parts of North Carolina but grows best in the mountains. It is native from western Canada to the northwest United States and eastern Canada to Guatemala.
Black cherry requires full sun, soil high in organic matter and good drainage. It can be pruned and kept at shrub size by cutting it to the ground every two to three years. Propagate it by seed or stem cutting. It is deer resistant.
As the tree ages, it exhibits a scaly or flaky pattern. In the spring, small, white flowers mature and provide nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. It produces a round, dark purple fruit that matures in late summer and attracts songbirds.
Plant black cherry in a woodland or as a shade tree. It is also well-suited for butterfly, edible, native or pollinator gardens.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: As with most cherries, the black cherry tree is susceptible to a large number of insect and disease pests. Potential diseases include leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot and fireblight. Potential insects include cherry lace bug, aphids, scale, borers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars and Japanese beetles. Spider mites may also be trouble.
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Mountain Ridge Top Garden - North Lawn and Upper Drive Border Mountain Ridge Top Garden - East Lawn and Lower Drive Border
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Spring Sparkle'
- 'Spring Sparkle'
- 'Spring Sparkle'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Spring Sparkle'
- 'Spring Sparkle'
- 'Spring Sparkle'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Prunus
- Species:
- serotina
- Family:
- Rosaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans used the inner bark to treat colds. The hard, reddish-brown wood takes a fine polish and is commercially valued for use in a large number of products such as furniture, veneers, cabinets, interior paneling, gun stocks, instrument/tool handles, and musical instruments.
- Life Cycle:
- Woody
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- North America
- Distribution:
- AL , AR , AZ , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , QCnortheast to Quebec south throughout the south also found in British Columbia and Washington.
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- This plant provides nectar for pollinators and is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. You may see Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus) which has one flight from May-August, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), which has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north, Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) which has many flights from January-October at the gulf coast getting shorter as you move north, Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) which has two to three broods May-September, and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) has two broods from April-October. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, white-tailed deer and small mammals.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Edibility:
- Fruits are bitter but can be used to make jellies and jams.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Conical
- Pyramidal
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Alkaline (>8.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- more than 60 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Black
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- 3/8 inch purple-black cherries in drooping clusters that ripen in late summer. Bitter-tasting off the tree. The fruits contain cyanogenic compounds, but the cyanide is not liberated until acted upon by digestive enzymes. Cedar Waxwings can digest the fruits without releasing the cyanide, but humans are advised not to consume the fruits.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- 3-6 inches long pendulous racemes of many small fragrant white 5-petaled flowers that appear with the foliage in late April to May.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Fragrant
- Deciduous Leaf Fall Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Lanceolate
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Dentate
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The 3-6 inch long by .75-1.5 inch wide dark green leaves have a cherry fragrance and bitter taste. The leaves are alternate with fine incurvate teeth, inconspicuous glands on the stem and yellow-brown pubescence on the underside of the leaf. The fall color is yellow-orange. The scent when crushed is of bitter almonds.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Light Gray
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Papery
- Bark Description:
- Younger bark is shiny and has verticle lenticels. The bark of mature trees develops a dark scaly or flaky pattern. Inner bark has a bitter almond flavor.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- Yes
- Stem Description:
- Satiny reddish-brown twigs with a strong scent of bitter almonds.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Edible Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Flowering Tree
- Shade Tree
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Songbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Problems:
- Frequent Disease Problems
- Frequent Insect Problems
- Messy
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Children
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- All parts are potentially toxic. If ingested, it is likely to cause death in livestock and pets. Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure. The leaves, fruits and seeds contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If a couple of pits are accidentally swallowed, it will not cause poisoning. The pits are more poisonous if they are broken to expose the seeds. Fruit that has not been pitted should not processed in a blender or other machine that might crack open the pits to reveal the poisonous seeds. Fruits contain cyanogenic compounds, which when acted upon by digestive enzymes, can cause poisoning.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin & prunasin)
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Seeds
