Black Cherry

Thrives in USDA Zones 3 - 9

• Transplant

  Plant balled-and-burlapped or container-grown nursery stock in early spring; transplants best when young

• Harvest

  Harvest black cherries in July-August when fully ripe and dark; use for jams, jellies, and wines; remove stones before eating raw

• Hosts more caterpillar species than almost any other tree in North America; do not spray caterpillars found on foliage.

• Black knot gall - a dark, warty fungal growth on branches - can be controlled by pruning out affected wood well below the gall in late winter.

• Wilted leaves contain hydrogen cyanide; do not allow wilted leaves to accumulate where livestock or dogs can consume large quantities.

• A single mature tree can produce thousands of fruits annually; plant where fallen fruit can be left for wildlife rather than on lawns.

• Watering

  If dry weather lingers, let the top 2 inches start to dry before watering again. This plant often responds better to an occasional deep soak than to frequent light watering.

• Feeding

  Extra feeding is rarely required if soil is healthy. If growth looks pale or slow, a light compost top-dressing is often enough before adding anything stronger.

• Pruning

  If pruning is needed, dormancy or the period just after harvest is often the simplest window. Dead, damaged, or crossing growth is usually the first place to start.

• Seasonal care

  In late fall, a light cleanup and fresh mulch can help if winter protection is useful in your climate. Leaving a little space around crowns and trunks often helps air move and keeps excess moisture from sitting there.

• Straight Species

  The wild-type black cherry; maximum ecological value for caterpillars, pollinators, and birds. Most plants sold at native plant nurseries are the straight species grown from local seed sources.

  Best for

  Wildlife habitat; ecological restoration; woodland gardens

• Canada Red (P. virginiana)

  A related species, chokecherry, with similar wildlife value but smaller stature (15-25 feet); often substituted for black cherry in smaller gardens or windbreaks.

  Best for

  Smaller gardens; windbreaks; zones 2-7

• Eastern Tent Caterpillar
• Black Knot Fungus
• Cherry Aphid
• Peach Tree Borer

Origin

Native to North America and Central America.

Native Habitat

Forest edges, disturbed areas, successional woodlands, and roadsides across an enormous range from Nova Scotia and Manitoba south to Guatemala.

Current Distribution

Widespread across most of North America east of the Rockies; introduced and invasive in parts of Western Europe.

Kingdom

Plantae

Family

Rose family (Rosaceae)

Genus

Prunus

Species

serotina

• Root System

  Spreading, moderately deep taproot with wide lateral roots; pioneer species that anchors rapidly in disturbed ground.

• Stem

  Single-trunked tree reaching 50-80 feet; distinctive scaly, dark gray-black bark with bitter almond scent when scratched.

• Leaves

  Alternate, narrowly oblong-ovate with finely serrate margins and 1-2 reddish glands at leaf base; glossy dark green; yellow to orange in fall.

• Flowers

  White, 5-petaled flowers borne in elongated drooping racemes 4-6 inches long; bloom May-June; heavily visited by native bees and butterflies.

• Fruit

  Small, round, dark purple-black drupes 1/3 inch across in drooping clusters; ripen July-August; intensely flavored, used for jams, jellies, and wine.

Prunus serotina is native across a vast range from Nova Scotia and Manitoba south to Guatemala, growing in forest edges, disturbed areas, and successional woodlands. It is one of the most ecologically significant trees in eastern North America, identified by entomologist Doug Tallamy as second only to oaks in the number of moth and butterfly species it supports. The species name serotina means "late" in Latin, referring to the late-season flowering relative to other cherries. Bark was extensively used by Indigenous peoples and in 19th-century commercial medicine under the name "wild cherry bark." It was introduced to Europe in the 17th century and has become invasive in parts of Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Wild cherry bark was one of the most commercially important medicinal plants in 19th-century North America and remained in the US Pharmacopoeia into the 20th century. Its cough-suppressant and expectorant properties, derived from prunasin and related compounds that hydrolyze to benzaldehyde, were documented across many Indigenous nations and adopted widely into American folk and patent medicine.

• Cherokee, documented by Mooney and Olbrechts, late 19th century - bark

  Cherokee healers prepared bark decoctions used in traditional contexts associated with coughs, respiratory complaints, and as a cold remedy; documented in multiple ethnobotanical accounts as a primary respiratory plant.

• US Pharmacopoeia, 1820-1975 - inner bark

  Wild cherry bark syrup was an official Pharmacopoeia preparation for over 150 years, used as a cough suppressant and expectorant; it remains a component of some over-the-counter cough preparations today.

Ripe fruits are safe to eat in moderate quantities but should have stones removed. Wilted leaves and bark contain prunasin, which can release hydrogen cyanide; do not use bark preparations without proper preparation guidance. Ripe cherries are safe; wilted or damaged leaves are toxic to livestock.

This information is provided for historical and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions related to your health.