Black cherry is a woody, deciduous tree in the rose family (Rosaceae). It has a conical habit and is a rapid grower capable of reaching 60 to 80 feet tall and 30 to 60 feet wide. It is found in all parts of North Carolina but grows best in the mountains. It is native from western Canada to the northwest United States and eastern Canada to Guatemala. Black cherry requires full sun, soil high in organic matter and good drainage. It can be pruned and kept at shrub size by cutting it to the ground every two to three years. Propagate it by seed or stem cutting. It is deer resistant. As the tree ages, it exhibits a scaly or flaky pattern. In the spring, small, white flowers mature and provide nectar for pollinators. It is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. It produces a round, dark purple fruit that matures in late summer and attracts songbirds. Plant black cherry in a woodland or as a shade tree. It is also well-suited for butterfly, edible, native or pollinator gardens. Fire Risk : This plant has a low flammability rating. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems : As with most cherries, the black cherry tree is susceptible to a large number of insect and disease pests. Potential diseases include leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot and fireblight. Potential insects include cherry lace bug, aphids, scale, borers, leafhoppers, caterpillars, tent caterpillars and Japanese beetles. Spider mites may also be trouble. More information on Prunus .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt)
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
more than 60 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 60 ft. 0 in. - 80 ft. 0 in. | Width: 30 ft. 0 in. - 60 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
1 - Canopy (>40 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Conical; Pyramidal
Texture
Medium
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Brown/Copper; Gold/Yellow; Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Lanceolate; Oblong
Leaf margin
Dentate; Serrate
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf value
Fragrant
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
The 3-6 inch long by .75-1.5 inch wide dark green leaves have a cherry fragrance and bitter taste. The leaves are alternate with fine incurvate teeth, inconspicuous glands on the stem and yellow-brown pubescence on the underside of the leaf. The fall color is yellow-orange. The scent when crushed is of bitter almonds.
Fall color
Gold/Yellow; Orange
Flower color
Pink; White
Flower value
Fragrant; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
3-6 inches long pendulous racemes of many small fragrant white 5-petaled flowers that appear with the foliage in late April to May.
Bloom time
Spring
Fruit color
Black; Gold/Yellow; Red/Burgundy
Fruit type
Drupe
Fruit value
Edible
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
3/8 inch purple-black cherries in drooping clusters that ripen in late summer. Bitter-tasting off the tree. The fruits contain cyanogenic compounds, but the cyanide is not liberated until acted upon by digestive enzymes. Cedar Waxwings can digest the fruits without releasing the cyanide, but humans are advised not to consume the fruits.
Bark color
Dark Brown; Light Gray
Bark detail
Younger bark is shiny and has verticle lenticels. The bark of mature trees develops a dark scaly or flaky pattern. Inner bark has a bitter almond flavor.
Stem detail
Satiny reddish-brown twigs with a strong scent of bitter almonds.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
North America
Distribution
AL , AR , AZ , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , ND , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , VA , VT , WI , WV Canada: NB , NS , ON , QCnortheast to Quebec south throughout the south also found in British Columbia and Washington.
Wildlife value
This plant provides nectar for pollinators and is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. You may see Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus) which has one flight from May-August, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), which has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north, Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) which has many flights from January-October at the gulf coast getting shorter as you move north, Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) which has two to three broods May-September, and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) has two broods from April-October. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, white-tailed deer and small mammals.
Attracts
Butterflies; Pollinators; Songbirds
Host plant for
several species of butterflies
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Fruit
Harvest time
Summer
Fruit type
Drupe
Edibility
Fruits are bitter but can be used to make jellies and jams.
Uses (ethnobotany)
Native Americans used the inner bark to treat colds. The hard, reddish-brown wood takes a fine polish and is commercially valued for use in a large number of products such as furniture, veneers, cabinets, interior paneling, gun stocks, instrument/tool handles, and musical instruments.
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Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Cherry Lace Bug; Caterpillars That Feed on Trees and Shrubs; Eastern Tent Caterpillar; Japanese Beetle
Problems
Frequent Disease Problems; Frequent Insect Problems; Messy; Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
Resistant to
Deer; Fire
Particularly resistant to
fire in the landscape.
Fire risk
low flammability
Poison severity
Medium
Poison parts
Fruits; Leaves; Seeds
Poison symptoms
All parts are potentially toxic. If ingested, it is likely to cause death in livestock and pets. Gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure. The leaves, fruits and seeds contain cyanide compounds, which are poisonous. If a couple of pits are accidentally swallowed, it will not cause poisoning. The pits are more poisonous if they are broken to expose the seeds. Fruit that has not been pitted should not processed in a blender or other machine that might crack open the pits to reveal the poisonous seeds. Fruits contain cyanogenic compounds, which when acted upon by digestive enzymes, can cause poisoning.
Toxic principle
Cyanogenic glycosides (amygdalin & prunasin)
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Medium severity poison; parts: Fruits; Leaves; Seeds