Click on the images help you identify a pin cherry.
Form
Small, reaching heights of up to 30 feet with a trunk diameter of up to 8 inches; crown rounded.
Bark
Reddish brown, breaking into papery layers and marked by irregular, horizontal bands of orange-colored lines (lenticels).
Leaf
Simple, alternate on stem, 3 to 4 inches long, oblong and pointed, with finely toothed margins; shiny green when fully grown, turning bright yellow in autumn.
Fruit (seed)
Drupe (cherry) about ¼ inch in diameter, with thick, light red skin and thin, sour flesh surrounding an oblong stone; borne on long-stemmed clusters, ripening in mid to late summer; can be used to make jellies.
Range
Common throughout Minnesota except in the southwestern portion; often abundant in cutover lands, old fields, and along roadsides; shade intolerant and fast growing.
Wood uses
Medium light, medium soft, brownish with yellowish sapwood; while pin cherry has no special commercial value, it provides habitat and feeding grounds for songbirds and is especially suited for beautifying landscapes around homes.