Also known as American Cherry or Wild Black Cherry
All parts of the plant except the fruits are highly poisonous to ingest
Deciduous tree
Mature height of 60-80' and width of 30-60'
Altenrate, elliptical toothed leaves turn gold and yellow in the fall.
Provides nectar for pollinators and host various butterflies including the coral hairstreak (Satyrium titus), Eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) and spring azure (Celastrina ladon).
Particularly resistant to fire and deer damage
Requires full sun and high-quality soil, but does well in all drainage and pH conditions.
Hardiness zone 2-7
Pioneer species
Sentimental and Symbolic Value
The cherry fragrance is known to calm nerves and create a sense of renewal.
Cherry trees are highly revered in Japanese and Buddhist culture, with the short blooming time of their flowers symbolizing the impermanence of life.
Celtic folklore holds that bringing a cherry blossom inside or using it as a decoration will bring bad luck.
Specimen photographed found in the Back Bay Fens in Boston, Massachusetts. Part of the Woodland Plants assignment (10/6/2021).
Plant History and Etymology
The genus name is derived from the Latin prūnum, or plum, and the species name serotina means "late", as in the fruit is late ripening. The tree's shiny, hard, red-tinted wood is valued for use in furniture, instruments, and other artisan items. It was historically a staple in the diets of Native Americans, including the Aztec. The fruit is edible raw, but also commonly made into jelly or used as a drink mixer.
Design Considerations
The wild cherry is valued for its sweet but powerful fragrance, pink and white flowers, and many wildlife benefits. Its attractive, dark brown bark is somewhat shiny in younger trees and flaky in older ones, with horizontal lenticels, or striations. It is fast and easy to grow, and very showy, making it a good ornamental tree. However, the majority of the plant's parts including the bark, leaves, seeds, and stems are highly poisonous to humans and animals, so it would not be a good choice to plant in a location where animals or children are likely to try to eat it.
Sources
“Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - the University of Texas at Austin.” 2013. Wildflower.org. 2013. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=prse2#:~:text=While%20the%20fruit%20is%20edible,can%20be%20toxic%20if%20consumed.
“Prunus Serotina (Black Cherry, Wild Cherry, Wild Rum Cherry) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.” 2021. Ncsu.edu. 2021. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-serotina/.
Wikipedia Contributors. 2021. “Prunus Serotina.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. October 1, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_serotina.