Prunus serotina

The Black cherry is an important southern tree for both wild life and commercially. Young black cherries tend to have a conical crown but when given enough room, the mature trees develop long limbs and arching branches giving it an oval shaped crown. The Black cherry’s fall foliage is a golden yellow.  The black cherry tree is very important to wildlife and the flowers attract large numbers of pollinators such as butterflies and native bees. The fruit of the black cherry starts red and ripens to a dark black between August and October. Beloved by over 30 native bird species and many more mammals, the berries are an important food source for wild life.  The wood is also prized for industrial purposes and is used for making furniture, toys and scientific instruments. Historically, people have also used the bark to make a cough syrup and the berries can be used to make jelly or wine.