ExploreTree

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

The Black Cherry tree has dark, shiny berries that are loved by birds. It’s a pretty tree in spring when it blooms!

Habitat: Forests and fields

Appearance

The Black Cherry has distinct dark, scaly bark that looks like burnt potato chips. Its shiny, elongated green leaves turn yellow-orange in fall, and it produces clusters of small white flowers followed by dark red to black cherries.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderRosalesFamilyRosaceaeGenusPrunus

Black Cherry

Interesting facts

Even its wilted leaves and seeds contain a tiny bit of cyanide, making them dangerous to eat.

Its beautiful reddish-brown wood is highly prized for making fancy furniture and musical instruments!

The bark on older Black Cherry trees looks amazingly like burnt cornflakes or potato chips!

Young Black Cherry leaves often have rusty hairs along the main vein on their undersides!

Special abilities

Black Cherry has thick, scaly bark that helps it resist damage from minor forest fires, aiding its survival.

Black Cherry leaves decompose quickly, adding rich nutrients to the soil that benefit other plants.

Black Cherry can grow quickly as a young tree, helping it reach for sunlight in crowded forest environments.

Measurements & details

Height: 15-30 m
Canopy Spread: 8-15 m
Is Edible: Yes
Trunk Diameter: 60-120 cm
Lifespan: 60-100 years
Fruit Type: Drupe
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Deciduous

Ecological connections

eats

Cedar Waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

eats fruits, disperses seeds

eats

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses twigs and leaves

pollinates

Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

visits flowers for nectar

eats

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

eats fallen ripe cherries

Traits

Deciduous

Discover the magic of plants that shed all their leaves during a particular season, often putting on a spectacular show of fall colors first. They get ready for a fresh start!

Spring Blooming

Celebrate the arrival of warmer weather with these cheerful plants that burst into beautiful flowers as spring awakens the world.

Fruit Bearing

These amazing plants develop fruits, which often contain seeds and are sometimes delicious treats for us or wildlife. They're nature's way of spreading new life!

Fruit Tree

Discover trees that grow delicious fruits, providing a natural bounty of snacks for people and animals alike. Imagine picking an apple right from the branch!

Edible

Find plants that are safe and delicious to eat, offering tasty treats and nourishment from nature's pantry. Always check with an adult before tasting!