Black Cherry
Deciduous tree growing 15-30 m tall with a narrow to rounded crown. Features finely toothed, lance-shaped leaves and long clusters of small white flowers in late spring. Produces small, dark purple fruits. Prefers well-drained soils and full sun to partial shade. Important food source for birds and wildlife. Valuable timber tree. Suitable for naturalized areas and large landscapes. Native to eastern North America.
Plant Details
Bloom Colour: White
Bloom Time: Spring
Sun Requirements: Sun to Part-Shade
Moisture: Moist-Drained
Phenology: Leaves emerge mid-May. White flower racemes appear late May-June. Fruits develop green, ripening to black August-September. Yellow-red fall color develops October.
Wildlife Value: High value wildlife tree; fruits eaten by >50 bird species; important early season pollinator plant; larval host for many butterfly species
Habit Over Time: Forms a large tree with an oval to rounded crown that becomes increasingly irregular with age. The canopy provides filtered shade that allows for understory planting. While it can produce root suckers when stressed, it typically maintains a single-trunk form in healthy conditions. May self-seed prolifically but seedlings are easily managed.
Height: Tall (50-80 feet)