Click on the images help you identify a black cherry.
Form
Height is 30 to 60 feet, with a trunk diameter of up to 24 inches. In forest conditions, black cherry develops a long, single trunk with little taper. In open conditions, the trunk is shorter, with many branches and an irregular, spreading crown.
Bark
Bark on young trunks is smooth and bright reddish brown, marked by conspicuous, narrow, white horizontal lines, called lenticels. Twigs and bark have a bitter almond taste. Older trunks are covered with thick, irregular plates of thin, dark brown, rough bark, sometimes described as “potato-chip” bark.
Leaf
Leaves are simple and alternate on the stem. They are thick, 2 to 6 inches long, oval to pointed lance-shaped, with finely toothed margins. Leaves are shiny above and paler below. They turn yellow to yellowish red in autumn.
Fruit (seed)
After pollination, clusters of showy, fragrant, white flowers develop into dark red to black, pea-sized cherries arranged in drooping bunches. The edible but somewhat tart fruit ripens in late summer and has some medicinal value.
Range
Found in southern and central Minnesota. Shade-tolerant when young and shade-intolerant when mature. Moderately fast-growing. Fairly drought-tolerant, but thin bark makes it susceptible to fire.
Wood uses
The wood is reddish brown, with yellowish sapwood, medium heavy, strong, and fine-grained. It resists warping and splitting during seasoning and has exceptional luster and color. It is used for furniture, interior furnishings, tools, and tool handles.