By Renee Moon

The black cherry is the largest of the native cherries and the only one of commercial value. It is a medium size tree that may reach 100 feet in height. It is found throughout the Eastern United States, primarily in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas; east to Florida; north to Nova Scotia; and west to North Dakota. The black cherry is also known as the rum cherry, wild cherry, and cabinet cherry. It is in the Phylum Anthophyta (flowering plants) and in the Rosaceae (Rose family).

The tree is recognized by its branches and bark, which are reddish brown and smooth. The leaves are oval, relatively long, and have a shiny upper surface and are paler beneath. Between March and June the buds bloom into clusters of five-petaled white flowers. The fruit of the black cherry is reddish black. The fruit ripens from June to October to approximately the size of a pea. Black cherry grows well on a wide variety of soils and in a large range of climatic conditions. The original spread of the species is thought have been from birds.

The fruit of the tree is eaten by a wide variety of wildlife. Although the cherries are bitter, they attract squirrels, raccoons, skunks, foxes, white tailed deer, rabbits, porcupines, grouse, and bears. Mice and chipmunks eat the pits. In many wild specimens of the black cherry there is a high level of cyanide in the leaves and in the cherry stone.

The black cherry tree has many special uses as well. In the southern Appalachians, the bark is used in cough medicines, tonics, and sedatives. The fruit is used for making jellies and wines. The wood of the tree is used for furniture, scientific instruments, cabinet making, panels, woodenware, and toys.

Written fall 2000, as a service learning project for Dr. Gary Coté's Biology 102 class at Radford University.  Copyright Pathways for Radford.