Black cherry (Prunus serotina) is a fast-growing native cherry that colonizes fields and edges, then persists into older forest as a canopy component. It is economically important for wood products and ecologically important for fruit-eating birds and caterpillar host relationships—but wilted leaves and pits are toxic to livestock and humans if ingested.
Habitat and range
Found in every Maryland county in some capacity: old fields, power-line corridors, suburban woodlots, and gaps in maturing forest. Seedlings tolerate shade for a time but reach full height best with side light or canopy openings. Often arrives on sites within a decade of mowing or grazing cessation.
Identification
Bark on mature trees is dark, somewhat burnt-cornflake or platy, and distinctive once learned (young bark is smoother with prominent lenticels). Leaves are narrow, finely serrated, alternate, with a small gland or glands on the petiole near the blade. Flowers are white, arranged in elongated racemes in late spring; fruit ripens from red to dark purple-black in summer.
Often mistaken for: Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)—often more shrubby, with shorter, broader racemes and different habitat preferences in parts of the range. Invasive cherries in trade are uncommon compared to invasive shrubs, but always confirm ID before control decisions.
Soil and moisture
Adaptable from dry, thin soils to moderately moist sites; intolerant of prolonged waterlogging. Roots can lift sidewalks if trees are squeezed into narrow strips—plan width as well as height.
Wildlife value
Fruit feeds dozens of bird species; flowers attract bees and flies. As a rose-family tree, black cherry supports numerous moth and butterfly larvae, which in turn feed nestling songbirds. Dead snags decay quickly but can still provide temporary foraging substrate for woodpeckers.
Uses and significance
High-value cabinet and furniture wood; also a workhorse wildlife tree for edges and restoration. Do not plant where horses, cattle, or goats browse vegetation—cyanogenic compounds in wilted leaves cause poisoning. Teach children not to chew leaves or pits; ripe flesh is eaten by wildlife (human use of wild fruit is a separate foraging topic—verify safety and laws locally).
Further reading
- USDA PLANTS: Prunus serotina — nationwide range and images.
- US Forest Service Silvics: black cherry — growth, pests, and silvics (PDF).
- University of Maryland Extension — toxic plant awareness for livestock owners.