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Prunus serotina: Black Cherry1

Edward F. Gilman, Dennis G. Watson, Ryan W. Klein, Andrew K. Koeser, Deborah R. Hilbert, and Drew C. McLean 2

Introduction

Black cherry is a 60 to 90-foot-tall native North American tree which has an oval silhouette. Low branches normally droop and touch the ground. These are easily removed to create clearance beneath the canopy. The finely-toothed, deciduous leaves are dark green and shiny, changing in fall for a short period to lovely shades of yellow to red, but this varies with weather conditions and among seedlings. The leaves and twigs contain hydrocyanic acid which could poison livestock or other animals if consumed in large quantities. Wild cherry cough syrup is made from the reddish-brown, fragrant, and bitter inner bark. The wood is highly prized by wood workers and it has been used since the colonial days for fine furniture.

Figure 1. Full Form - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Figure 1.  Full Form - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Credit: UF/IFAS

General Information

Scientific name: Prunus serotina

Pronunciation: PROO-nus sair-OTT-ih-nuh

Common name(s): black cherry

Family: Rosaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 3B through 9A (Figure 2)

Origin: native to eastern North America, Mexico, and Guatemala

UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status: native

Uses: reclamation

Figure 2. Range
Figure 2.  Range

Description

Height: 60 to 90 feet

Spread: 35 to 50 feet

Crown uniformity: irregular

Crown shape: oval

Crown density: moderate

Growth rate: fast

Texture: medium

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: alternate

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: serrulate

Leaf shape: oblong, ovate

Leaf venation: pinnate, bowed

Leaf type and persistence: deciduous

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: dark green and shiny on top, paler green underneath

Fall color: yellow to red

Fall characteristic: showy

Figure 3. Leaf - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Figure 3.  Leaf - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Credit: UF/IFAS

Flower

Flower color: white

Flower characteristics: showy; emerges on 4-6" long racemes

Flowering: late winter to early spring

Figure 4. Flower - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Figure 4.  Flower - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Credit: UF/IFAS

Fruit

Fruit shape: round

Fruit length: ½ inch

Fruit covering: fleshy; shiny drupe

Fruit color: red to purple with maturity

Fruit characteristics: attracts birds; showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Fruiting: summer

Figure 5. Fruit - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Figure 5.  Fruit - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Credit: UF/IFAS

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/branches: branches don't droop; not showy; typically one trunk; no thorns

Bark: brownish, smooth, shiny, and peppered with horizontal lenticels when young, splitting into small, dark, reddish-brown to nearly black plates with maturity

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: brown

Current year twig thickness: thin, medium

Wood specific gravity: 0.50

Figure 6. Bark, Young - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Figure 6.  Bark, Young - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Credit: UF/IFAS
Figure 7. Bark, Mature - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Figure 7.  Bark, Mature - Prunus serotina: black cherry
Credit: Gitta Hasing, UF/IFAS

Culture

Light requirement: full sun to partial shade

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; alkaline; acidic; well-drained

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: no

Ozone sensitivity: sensitive

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: susceptible

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

In early spring as the new leaves are unfolding, black cherry produces small, white, fragrant blossoms. These are followed by small, bitter fruits which mature during summer and fall from red to dark purple or black. Sometimes used for jams, jellies, or liqueurs, these fruits are highly prized by birds and other wildlife who quickly devour them as they ripen. They stain concrete as they fall in summer, and people can roll on the hard seed. If you plant black cherry, it is probably best to locate it away from walks and pavement. The tree appears to be tolerant of drought in its native habitat where roots are allowed to explore a large volume of soil, but growth is often poor in restricted soil spaces characteristic of urban areas.

Black cherry should be grown in full sun or partial shade on well-drained, non-compacted soil in a location where it will not receive excessive heat or competition from grasses. Although somewhat tolerant of dry conditions, black cherry will respond best to rich, moist soil and a heavy mulch to keep the root zone cool. Plants should not be disturbed after becoming established and have a fairly shallow root system, making them susceptible to damage from anything stacked, stored, or parked within the dripline and slightly beyond.

Propagation is by seed which is spread by birds and other wildlife.

Pests

Black Cherry is susceptible to eastern tent caterpillar, fall webworm, other chewing insects, but they are usually enough of a problem to warrant control.

Diseases

No diseases are of major concern. Black Cherry is a host for Ganoderma root and butt rot.

Reference

Koeser, A. K., Hasing, G., Friedman, M. H., and Irving, R. B. 2015. Trees: North & Central Florida. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Footnotes

1. This document is ENH-675, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date November 1993. Revised December 2018. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication.
2. Edward F. Gilman, professor emeritus, Environmental Horticulture Department; Dennis G. Watson, former associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department; Ryan W. Klein, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department; Andrew K. Koeser, assistant professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center; Deborah R. Hilbert, graduate assistant, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; and Drew C. McLean, biological scientist, Environmental Horticulture Department, GCREC; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Publication #ENH-675

Release Date:April 25, 2019

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Part of Southern Trees Fact Sheets

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    Contacts

    • Andrew Koeser