Prunus serotina var. serotina: Uses (Ethnobotany)
The wood is used in furniture making and prized for its red color.
Plant Profile: Prunus serotina var. serotina
Names
Black Cherry, Eastern Black Cherry, Wild Black Cherry
Phonetic Spelling:PROO-nus se-roh-TEE-nuh se-roh-TEE-nuh
Genus:Prunus
Species:serotina
Family:Rosaceae
The Eastern Black Cherry is a native deciduous tree, representing the eastern variant of P. serotina. It thrives in open forested regions, lush coves, and dry to moderately moist habitats at lower elevations, often found along woodland edges, savannas, and areas with ample sunlight. While this species has a low tolerance for soil compaction, it is resilient to heat. It flourishes best in natural settings and frequently serves as a host for the Tent Caterpillar.
Additionally, the Eastern Black Cherry is a vital food source for a variety of birds and mammals, and it also acts as a host plant for numerous moths and butterflies.
For further details on Prunus serotina, please refer to additional resources.
Prunus serotina var. serotina Feature Summary
Prunus serotina var. serotina Image Gallery
Tags
#showy flowers
#deciduous
#heat tolerant
#white flowers
#wildlife plant
#native tree
#showy fruits
#NC native
#red fruits
#black fruits
#larval host plant
#deciduous tree
#purple fruits
#food source herbage
#food source nectar
#food source pollen
#bird friendly
#mammals
#food source soft mast fruit
#butterfly friendly
#butterfly larvae
#Piedmont Mountains FACU
#Coastal FACU
#problem for cats
#pollinators
#pollinator garden
#problem for dogs
#problem for horses
#audubon
#woodlands
#eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly
Similar Plants
Prunus serotina var. serotina Feature Summary
Attributes
The wood is used in furniture making and prized for its red color.
North America
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Fruits eaten by many birds and mammals. Host plant to many butterflies and moths.
Woody
Fruit
Fruits are available July-August and ripen from green to red to black.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Black
Summer
Flowers
White flowers in racemes any time from from April-May appear after leaves emerge.
White
Raceme
Spring
Leaves
Dark green simple alternate, oblecolate to ovate leaves with crenate to serrate margins, acuminate tips and cuneate bases.
Deciduous
Green
Simple
Alternate
Ovate
Oblanceolate
Serrate
Crenate
Poisonous to Humans
All parts but the fruits are poisonus. gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.
Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin, prussic acid.
High
Leaves
Stems
Sap/Juice
Flowers
Bark
Roots
Whole Plant Traits
Tree
Native Plant
Deciduous
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Acid (<6.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasionally Dry
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Stem
Landscape
Butterfly Garden
Pollinator Garden
Native Garden
Flowering Tree
Butterflies
Pollinators
Songbirds
Small Mammals
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Problem for Children
Prunus serotina var. serotina Image Gallery
Prunus serotina var. serotina Attributes
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Country Or Region Of Origin
North America
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Wildlife Value
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February-November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north. Fruits eaten by many birds and mammals. Host plant to many butterflies and moths.
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Life Cycle
Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody
Prunus serotina var. serotina Fruit
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Fruit Description
Fruits are available July-August and ripen from green to red to black.
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Fruit Color
Black
Green
Red/Burgundy
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Fruit Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Display/Harvest Time
Fall
Spring
Summer
Winter
Prunus serotina var. serotina Flowers
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Flower Description
White flowers in racemes any time from from April-May appear after leaves emerge.
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Flower Color
White
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Flower Inflorescence
Catkin
Corymb
Cyme
Head
Insignificant
Panicle
Raceme
Solitary
Spadix
Spike
Umbel
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Flower Value To Gardener
Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Flower Bloom Time
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Prunus serotina var. serotina Leaves
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Leaf Description
Dark green simple alternate, oblecolate to ovate leaves with crenate to serrate margins, acuminate tips and cuneate bases.
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Leaf Color
Green
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Leaf Type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Leaf Arrangement
Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Leaf Shape
Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Leaf Margin
Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Hairs Present
No
Yes
Prunus serotina var. serotina Poisonous to Humans
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Poison Symptoms
All parts but the fruits are poisonus. gasping, weakness, excitement, pupil dilation, spasms, convulsions, coma, respiratory failure Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, panting, shock.
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Poison Toxic Principle
Cyanogenic glycoside, amygdalin, prussic acid.
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Poison Severity
High
Low
Medium
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Causes Contact Dermatitis
No
Yes
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Poison Part
Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems
Prunus serotina var. serotina Whole Plant Traits
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Plant Type
Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
Broadleaf Evergreen
Deciduous
Needled Evergreen
Semi-evergreen
Prunus serotina var. serotina Cultural Conditions
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Soil pH
Acid (<6.0)
Alkaline (>8.0)
Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Soil Drainage
Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry
Prunus serotina var. serotina: NC Region
Coastal
Mountains
Piedmont
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Soil Texture
Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky
Prunus serotina var. serotina Stem
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Stem Is Aromatic
No
Yes
Prunus serotina var. serotina Landscape
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Landscape Theme
Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Design Feature
Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Resistance To Challenges
Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Attracts
Bats
Bees
Butterflies
Frogs
Hummingbirds
Moths
Pollinators
Predatory Insects
Reptiles
Small Mammals
Songbirds
Specialized Bees
Prunus serotina var. serotina: Problems
Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy
