Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

black cherry leaves

Click on the images help you identify an Black cherry.

 

Form

Height 30' to 60', diameter up to 24"; in the forest has a long clear trunk with little tapering; in the open, trunk is short with many branches and an irregular spreading crown.

Bark

On young trunk smooth and bright, reddish brown, marked by conspicuous narrow, white horizontal lines, has bitter almond taste; on older trunks, thin, dark brown, rough, and broken into thick, irregular plates.

Leaf

Simple, alternate on stem, length 2" to 6", oval or pointedly lance shaped with finely toothed margins; thick, shiny above, paler below; yellow to yellowish red in autumn.

Fruit (seed)

Drooping clusters of pea-sized cherries, dark red to nearly black; edible but somewhat tart; ripens in late summer; has some medicinal value.

Range

Southern and central Minnesota; shade tolerant when young, shade intolerant when mature; moderately fast growing.

Wood uses

Reddish-brown with yellowish sapwood, medium-heavy, strong, fine-grained; does not warp or split in seasoning; has exceptional luster and color; used for furniture, interior furnishing, tools, and implement handles.

Back to top