Prunus serotina Ehrh.

Black Cherry; Cabinet Cherry; Rum Cherry

Tree

Perennial

Vascular

Black Cherry is a native deciduous tree in the Rose family (Rosaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Black Cherry grows along fence lines, in cut-over woods, in urban woodlots, in open forests, and along streams. It is a fast growing medium sized tree reaching heights of 50-80 feet. Young twigs are smooth and glabrous. The bark on older stems and the trunk is gray to almost black in color and broken into rough irregular plates. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to oblong in outline, thin in texture, with serrate margins. The teeth are gland or callous tipped. The leaves are pubescent along the midrib on the lower surface near the petiole. They turn yellow or red before falling in the autumn. Flowers are produced in racemes. The flowers are produced as the leaves emerge. Each flower has 5 erect to spreading glandular-toothed sepals and 5 white petals. The fruit is a small black drupe. The flesh of the fruit is edible and is eagerly sought by many bird and mammal species. It is also used by humans for jams, jellies, pies, cakes, ice cream, and to flavor beverages. The foliage of Black Cherry contains cyanogenic glycosides which convert to hydrogen cyanide in the stomach. Black Cherry is one of the main species responsible for livestock poisoning in early spring. The Eastern Tent Caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americanum) larvae feed on the foliage of Black Cherry. The caterpillars build large web nests in the forks of limbs and remain in the nest until dark to escape predators. They come out at night to feed. Black Cherry is also a host plant for Coral Hairstreak, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Red-Spotted Purple, Spring Azure and Viceroy butterflies. The wood of Black Cherry is highly prized and used in cabinetry. It is hard, reddish-brown in color, and has a high polish.--A. Diamond

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Native FACU (NWPL) G5 (Global Rank)

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