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NC Native Plant Society:
Plant Details

Prunus serotina var. serotina

Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Rum Cherry

Scientific Name:

Prunus serotina var. serotina

Genus:

Prunus

Species Epithet:

serotina

Common Name:

Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Rum Cherry

Plant Type

Tree

Life Cycle

Perennial

Plant Family

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Native/Alien:

NC Native

Size:

12-36 ft., 36-72 ft., 72-100 ft.

Bloom Color(s):

White

Light:

Sun - 6 or more hours of sun per day, Part Shade - 2 to 6 hours of sun per day

Soil Moisture:

Dry, Moist

Bloom Time:

April, May

Growing Area:

Mountains, Piedmont, Coastal Plain

Habitat Description:

“Rich coves, bottomlands, northern hardwood forests, and in a wide variety of lower elevation habitats from dry to mesic, and weedy in fencerows. ...In the Piedmont and Coastal Plain, P. serotina is generally a small, scrubby tree of fencerows and an understory tree in forests and woodlands, but in the Mountains reaching large sizes and full canopy stature”(Weakley 2015). Common throughout NC.

Leaf Arrangement:

Alternate

Leaf Retention:

Deciduous

Leaf Type:

Leaves veined, not needle-like or scale-like

Leaf Form:

Simple

Life Cycle:

Perennial

Wildlife Value:

Highest Wildlife Value

Landscape Value:

Highly Recommended and Available

State Rank:

S5: Secure (*Key)

Global Rank:

G_T_: Subspecies or Variety Rank (add status to NOTES section) (*Key)

Notes:

"A showy tree with handsome trunk and branches, attractive foliage, especially in fall, and ornamental blooms and fruit. Easy to grow...Fruit consumed by 33 species of birds and many mammals. Attracts: Birds , Butterflies. Larval Host: Eastern tiger swallowtail, Cherry Gall Azure, Viceroy, Columbia Silkmoth, Promethea Moth, Small-eyed Sphinx Moth, Wild Cherry Sphinx Moth, Banded Tussock Moth, Band-edged Prominent, Spotted Apatelodes." Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Prunus serotina var. serotina is the only variety in NC.

Global Rank: G5T5

In bloom

image

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, April 13, 2008

Jack Spruill notes the acrid smell and bitter taste of young tree bark. The bark and wilted leaves contain hydrocyanic acid, toxic to pets and livestock in large amounts (but not to deer!)

Close-up of flowers

image

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, April 16, 2008

Black Cherry is the largest of our native cherries, reaching its full height in the mountains. An adaptable tree, it grows in woodlands, pastures and fencerows.

In fruit

Black Cherry is a great wildlife tree with abundant berries attracting many birds. The wood is prized for furniture and the berries are made into jelly, wine and liqueurs.

image

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, June 28, 2009

Bark showing the characteristic horizontal lenticels

Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Prunus serotina var. serotina. You will likely hear them called Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Rum Cherry. This picture shows the Bark showing the characteristic horizontal lenticels of Prunus serotina var. serotina

Bettina Darveaux

Developing raceme and leaves emerging in early spring

Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Prunus serotina var. serotina. You will likely hear them called Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Rum Cherry. This picture shows the Developing raceme and leaves emerging in early spring of Prunus serotina var. serotina

Bettina Darveaux

Flowers just about ready to open in early April

Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Prunus serotina var. serotina. You will likely hear them called Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Rum Cherry. This picture shows the Flowers just about ready to open in early April of Prunus serotina var. serotina

Bettina Darveaux

Close-up of raceme of interesting white flowers

Orange County, NC

The Scientific Name is Prunus serotina var. serotina. You will likely hear them called Wild Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Cabinet Cherry, Rum Cherry. This picture shows the Close-up of raceme of interesting white flowers of Prunus serotina var. serotina

Bettina Darveaux

Links:

USDA PLANTS Database Record



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