Prunus serotina

black cherry, wild cherry, black chokecherry, rum cherry

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Photo credit: Christopher F. Miller, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, New Jersey.
Family

Rosaceae

Region

Coastal Plain, Mountain, Piedmont

States

Delaware, District of Columbia, New York, Virginia, West Virginia

Plant Type

Tall Tree (Canopy)

Height

40 - 75ft

Spread

20 - 35ft

Flower Color

White

Fruit

Fleshy; Black

Sun Exposure

Full Sun

Soil Texture

Loamy

Soil Moisture

Dry, Moist

Blooms

May - June

Fall Color

yellow/red

Habitat

dry to mesic forests, fence rows, old fields, edges of woods

Notes

birds eat fruit; Wood used for furniture making and as veneer for plywood; fruits can be eaten by humans; leaves, especially if wilted, are extremely poisonous if eaten by farm animals, due to a cyanide type of poison released; seeds or pits are a favorite food for small

More Information

Landscaping with Native Plants
Native Plant List
How to Shop for Native Plants
Plant Invaders of the Mid Atlantic

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Resources

The Native Plants Guide

Physiographic Regions of Chesapeake Watershed

Mountain
Piedmont
Coastal Plain