Prunus Species, Mountain Black Cherry, Rum Cherry, Wild Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
Family: | Rosaceae (ro-ZAY-see-ee) (Info) |
Genus: | Prunus (PROO-nus) (Info) |
Species: | serotina (se-roh-TEE-nuh) (Info) |

Category:
Trees
Water Requirements:
Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Sun Exposure:
Full Sun
Sun to Partial Shade
Foliage:
Deciduous
Foliage Color:
Height:
over 40 ft. (12 m)
Spacing:
30-40 ft. (9-12 m)
Hardiness:
USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F)
USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F)
USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F)
USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F)
USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F)
USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F)
USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F)
USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F)
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F)
Where to Grow:
Danger:
Parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color:
White/Near White
Bloom Characteristics:
This plant is attractive to bees, butterflies and/or birds
Bloom Size:
Bloom Time:
Late Spring/Early Summer
Other details:
Soil pH requirements:
5.6 to 6.0 (acidic)
6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic)
6.6 to 7.5 (neutral)
Patent Information:
Non-patented
Propagation Methods:
From semi-hardwood cuttings
From seed; direct sow outdoors in fall
From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse
From seed; stratify if sowing indoors
Seed Collecting:
Remove fleshy coating on seeds before storing
Unblemished fruit must be significantly overripe before harvesting seed; clean and dry seeds
Properly cleaned, seed can be successfully stored
Regional
This plant is said to grow outdoors in the following regions:
Atmore, Alabama
Gaylesville, Alabama
Saraland, Alabama
Vincent, Alabama
Huntington, Arkansas
Morrilton, Arkansas
Walnut Creek, California
Bartow, Florida
Brooksville, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Hampton, Florida
Land O' Lakes, Florida
Umatilla, Florida
Champaign, Illinois
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Indianapolis, Indiana
Valparaiso, Indiana
Wabash, Indiana
Benton, Kentucky
Clermont, Kentucky
Georgetown, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Nicholasville, Kentucky
Paris, Kentucky
Shepherdsville, Kentucky
Smiths Grove, Kentucky
Versailles, Kentucky
Farmerville, Louisiana
Hammond, Louisiana
Brookeville, Maryland
Gaithersburg, Maryland
Valley Lee, Maryland
Roslindale, Massachusetts
Calumet, Michigan
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saucier, Mississippi
Aurora, Missouri
Cole Camp, Missouri
Piedmont, Missouri
Collingswood, New Jersey
Frenchtown, New Jersey
Binghamton, New York
Star, North Carolina
Glouster, Ohio
Hilliard, Ohio
Vinton, Ohio
Jay, Oklahoma
Blairsville, Pennsylvania
Downingtown, Pennsylvania
Irwin, Pennsylvania
Laurens, South Carolina
Pelzer, South Carolina
Rock Hill, South Carolina
Christiana, Tennessee
Austin, Texas
Lufkin, Texas
Sacul, Texas
Wytheville, Virginia
Grand Mound, Washington
Rochester, Washington
Belington, West Virginia
Elkins, West Virginia
Elmwood, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin
show allGardeners' Notes:
Rating | Content |
---|---|
Positive | On Jul 25, 2016, Timberplot from Blairsville, PA wrote: Black Cherry is found throughout the Eastern US but the best commercial development is found in scattered areas of the Southern Appalachains and the Allegheny Plateau sections of Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia. Black Cherry prefers deep, rich soils with uniform moisture but thrives in many soil and moisture conditions. The dark bark of old trees is broken into irregular, easily peeled, scaled plates about 3/4" thick. On young trees it is smooth, dark red-brown with horizontal lenticels. |
Positive | On May 21, 2015, Rickwebb from Downingtown, PA wrote: Some nurseries used to grow this tree in the Midwest. It is a good and pretty tree with great wood, the fruit feeds the birds and it provides foliage food for many beneficial insects as caterpillars that birds need for their young. It gets a good yellow to orange fall color. A common tree found in many places east of the Great Plains in the US and a little in se Canada.Often a wild tree in open fields and forest edges. It lives about 100 to 175 years and grows about 1.5 to 2.5 feet per year. |
Positive | On Apr 17, 2015, FlyPoison from Rock Hill, SC (Zone 7a) wrote: Wild Black Cherry was childhood favorite growing up in the South. We used to love eating handfuls of the bittersweet cherries which were definitely an acquired taste They are a mess but worth it, especially for attracting avian visitors. |
Neutral | On Mar 6, 2014, coriaceous from ROSLINDALE, MA wrote: A very fast-growing, short-lived tree commonly reaching 50-60', native to eastern North America. Excellent for birds and wildlife, and a profitable timber tree where properly managed. |
Positive | On May 19, 2013, plant_it from Valparaiso, IN wrote: A showy tree with handsome trunk and branches, attractive foliage, especially in fall, and ornamental blooms and fruit. Easy to grow. |
Positive | On Sep 19, 2011, Halfspied from Star, NC (Zone 7b) wrote: They are all through our woods. I don't mind the tent caterpillars because I think they bring the cuckoos to us. |
Positive | On Jun 5, 2011, killdawabbit from Christiana, TN (Zone 6b) wrote: Very common and hardy in my area. I have a few in my landscape and it reseeds EVERYWHERE. But it's worth the effort to pull them. I wouldn't be without at least one Black Cherry. For the birds if no other reason. |
Positive | On Mar 17, 2008, peachespickett from Huntington, AR wrote: Invaluable wildlife plant, in addition to feeding a myriad of animals over 70 species of birds eat black cherries. Beautiful bark, flowers and foliage. We have many growing on overgrown parts of our property, so we clear the briars and honeysuckles off of them and prune them up nicely. Last year (2007) we had an April 8 hard freeze which killed the flowers on most of the trees, and I didn't see a single cherry anywhere in this part of Western Arkansas. |
Neutral | On Jan 31, 2006, Breezymeadow from Culpeper, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: If I didn't have horses, I would probably not dislike this native Virginia tree as I do. They are EVERYWHERE here, & the fact that the wilted leaves, when eaten, & which blow down easily during summer storms, can sicken & kill livestock within a very short period of time, makes it difficult for me to feel positive about it. |
Negative | On Jan 30, 2006, raisedbedbob from Walkerton, VA (Zone 7a) wrote: Native to this zone, this tree is common here. As others have noted, it is brittle and attracts all sorts of pests. I wouldn't erradicate them, but I wouldn't plant one either. |
Positive | On Aug 14, 2005, grikdog from St. Paul, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: I love the bark on this tree. Sometimes it looks almost black. It isn't common in St. Paul but I see it occaisionally. |
Neutral | On Jan 22, 2005, Toxicodendron from Piedmont, MO (Zone 6a) wrote: Although this is a good tree for wildlife and makes wonderful firewood and furniture, I dislike it because I get literally thousands of seedlings each spring to pull out or spray with herbicide. Do not locate near your flower beds or vegetable garden for this reason. In the woods, the seedlings can choke out other types of vegetation, but if there is dense shade, most of them will die off naturally. |
Neutral | On Jan 21, 2005, escambiaguy from Atmore, AL (Zone 8b) wrote: These trees are very common in my area.I have alot of them on my property.They are fast growing and somewhat weedy.These trees get very tall and slender.The wood although pretty,is very brittle.Even in mild storms the trunks can break right in the middle of the tree. |
Positive | On Jan 1, 2005, melody from Benton, KY (Zone 7a) wrote: This tree can get quite large...up to 80'. My aunt had one that was at least that tall, a huge tree that produced vast amounts of fruit. |
Neutral | On Dec 26, 2004, TREEHUGR from Now in Orlando, FL (Zone 9b) wrote: Listed a good plant for fall/winter color in florida. |
Negative | On Mar 16, 2004, Kelli from L.A. (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote: My parents had one of these trees and I always gave it wide berth because of the tent caterpillars and fall webworms, which I could not stand. My dad always said that it was a dirty tree, though he said that wild cherry lumber is valuable for making furniture. |
Neutral | On Apr 26, 2002, lupinelover from Grove City, OH (Zone 6a) wrote: Roots of this tree contain cyanide that is mildly poisonous to other types of plants, similar to juglone from black walnut. Tree is favorite of Eastern tent caterpillar. |
Neutral | On Feb 2, 2002, activex wrote: The cherry tree is a widely favored species. From the beautiful spring blossoms to the desirable wood of this species is the more favorable member of the rose family. The bark of this tree is also used in cough syrups. (Apples and plums also belong to the rose family.) |