Also known as Wild Black Cherry, Rum Cherry, Mountain Black Cherry
Black cherry grows into a large canopy hardwood recognizable by its dark, broken bark that resembles burnt potato chips and shiny green leaves with fine serrations. In late spring, long drooping clusters of fragrant white blossoms give way to small dark purple fruits that serve as a crucial late-summer food source for songbirds, small mammals, and black bears. Leaves and twigs release a characteristic bitter almond scent when crushed, signaling the presence of cyanogenic compounds that deter many herbivores.
ThreatsBlack knot fungus, forest clearing, and eastern tent caterpillar defoliation
HabitatsDeciduous forests, woodland margins, abandoned fields, and fence lines
Life span100 to 250 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
OrderRosales
FamilyRosaceae
GenusPrunus
Speciesprunus serotina
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
Low
Moderate
High
Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Wilted leaves, bark, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides; wild berries also have toxic look-alikes, so never ingest.
Why it is dangerous
Wilted foliage, bark, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides such as prunasin, which break down into lethal hydrogen cyanide if ingested in quantity by humans or livestock.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for dark scaly bark, shiny narrow leaves with fine teeth, and a bitter almond smell when twigs are broken.
What to do
Keep livestock and pets away from fallen branches, and avoid harvesting or consuming wild plant parts.
Responsible observation
Spring Bloom: Look for long, pendulous racemes of white flowers appearing just after leaves unfold in spring.
Bark Identification: Inspect mature trunks for a scaly bark texture resembling dark potato chips.
Wildlife Spotting: Watch the canopy in late summer as birds gather to feed on the ripening cherries.
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