Prunus serotina
A tall native North American hardwood in the cherry family with fragrant white spring blossoms, red-to-dark-purple drupes that attract wildlife, and wood valued for furniture.
Common Names
Black Cherry, Rum Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Wild Rum Cherry, Mountain Black Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Capulin, Black Choke, Eastern Black Cherry, Eastern Wild Black Cherry
Summary
Prunus serotina, Black Cherry, is a large native North American tree reaching about 50–90 feet in height with an oval crown; it yields fragrant white spring blossoms and red-to-purple-black drupes that mature in late summer, and its wood is highly valued for furniture, veneers, and other timber products. It thrives in full sun to partial shade on moist, well-drained soils, tolerates a range of soil types, and serves as a nectar source for pollinators and as a food source for birds and mammals, with seeds dispersed by birds promoting self-seeding in suitable habitats.
Sources note cyanogenic compounds in leaves, bark, and seeds that can poison livestock if ingested; common pests include eastern tent caterpillar, fall webworm, aphids, scale, and leafhoppers, while diseases such as black knot, powdery mildew, root rot, and fire blight may occur; a shallow root system and tendency to self-seed can complicate landscape management, and dropped fruit can stain concrete.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
50-60 feet
Spread
30-60 feet
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained loam soil
Soil Drainage
Moist, well-drained soil
Soil pH
No single ideal pH; Prunus serotina tolerates a broad range from acidic to alkaline (pH 6.0–8.0).
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring
Foliage Color
Green, dark green on the upper surface (glossy), paler underneath
Fall Foliage Color
Yellow to red
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast-growing; typically 18–36 inches (46–91 cm) per year in height under optimal conditions
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Sprouts from stumps, Tissue culture
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, and birds
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Ehrh.
- Publication
- Gartenkalender 3: 285 (1783)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Rosales
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Prunus
Inferior Taxa
Prunus serotina var. serotina Prunus serotina var. salicifolia Prunus serotina var. rufula Prunus serotina var. alabamensis
Synonyms
Cerasus serotina Padus serotina Cerasus serotina Prunus serotina f. typica