Black Cherry or Wild Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) is a bountiful tree for wildlife, and an important species for humans, too. It blooms in spring, with a profusion of long, slender, densely packed flower clusters.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) in bloom
The flowers offer nectar and pollen as enticements to a variety of bee and fly species who need this food to survive. The insects become Black Cherry’s unsuspecting pollination partners. In return for the food provided to these insect floral visitors, the flowers benefit by having some of their pollen transported on the insects’ bodies and deposited advantageously for pollination on other Black Cherry flowers. Successful pollination will result in fruit that ripens in late summer and fall.
A broad spectrum of animals eat Black Cherry’s fleshy fruit. Many thrushes, woodpeckers, sparrows, bluebirds, tanagers, orioles, and Cedar Waxings are among the dozens of bird species that eat the fruit.
Wood Thrush
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Mammals as diverse as fox, squirrels, chipmunks, mice and even Black Bears eat Black Cherry’s fruit.
Eastern Chipmunk
The fruit has evolved to lure animals to help Black Cherry spread its seeds. In exchange for the meal, the seeds are ‘dispersed’ after traveling through the animals’ digestive tracts.
Hundreds of insect species depend on Black Cherry for food, and in some cases, shelter.
In spring, finger galls caused by a mite (Eriophyes cerasicrumena) are conspicuous on Black Cherry leaves. A gall is a plant’s reaction to being used as food and shelter by an insect. The mite will feed on the tissue inside the gall until the mite matures and emerges from the gall.
Finger galls caused by a mite (Eriophyes cerasicrumena) on Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) leaves
You may be used to seeing Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies feeding on nectar from a variety of plants.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail nectaring at Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) flowers
But Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillars have a completely different diet. They depend on the leaves of several woody plants species as their food source, including Black Cherry.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail caterpillar in Black Cherry leaf
Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are just one of 456 species of butterflies and moths whose caterpillars eat the leaves of Black Cherry and other Prunus species, according to research from Douglas W. Tallamy and the University of Delaware. These caterpillars are in turn an important source of food for birds, especially when they are raising their young.
Tufted Titmouse – one of many bird species that harvest caterpillars from Black Cherry
Tent caterpillars favor Black Cherry, a practice that gardeners usually view unfavorably.
Tent Caterpillar egg mass in winter
But even Tent caterpillars have redeeming qualities, since they are an important food source for both Yellow- and Black-billed Cuckoos.
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Adult butterflies and moths may also become food for birds or other insects, and in the case of night-flying moths (including Tent caterpillars that survive to become adult moths), for bats.
In addition to the nectar offered by its flowers, Black Cherry provides nectar from glands on its leaf stems. These nectaries are not targeting pollinators. Instead, they are there to lure a mercenary army of ants to protect the tree from herbivores, especially caterpillars. The nectaries entice ants to visit the trees for a drink. While there, the ants may also help to keep the caterpillar population in check, since ants also need insect protein as part of their diet.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) in bloom
People benefit directly from Black Cherry trees. In addition to the beauty of its flowers, fruits and foliage, Black Cherry’s wood is an important timber crop, primarily for use in furniture and cabinet making. Black Cherry’s fruit is used to flavor brandies and to make a liqueur called cherry bounce. The fruit is somewhat bitter, but with added sugar it can be used to make jellies. Eating the raw fruit is not advisable, since the seeds can be toxic. Medicinally, Black Cherry’s inner bark has been used in cough suppressants.
Black Cherry can grow to a maximum height of 80-100 feet (24-30 meters). Its range is primarily eastern North America, from Canada through the United States and south into Mexico, although it is an adaptable species and may also be found in some areas of the Pacific Northwest.
Providing beauty, timber, food and medicine for humans, food for birds, mammals, pollinators and hundreds of other insects, Black Cherry is among our most productive native trees.
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) in bloom
Related Posts
Will Work for Food – Extrafloral Nectaries
Resources
Eastman, John. The Book of Forest and Thicket. 1992.
Eiseman, Charley; Charney, Noah. Tracks & Sign of Insects and Other Invertebrates. 2010.
Foster, Steven; Duke, James A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 2000.
Hoffmann, David. Medical Herbalism. 2003.
Peterson, Lee Allen. A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants of Eastern and Central North America. 1977.
Rhoads, Ann Fowler; Block, Timothy A. The Plants of Pennsylvania. 2007
Tallamy, Douglas W. Bringing Nature Home, 2007,
The Natural Web 
I have heard that the wilted leaves of this tree are poisonous to livestock. Is this correct?
I had to look this up. It appears that is correct: https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-serotina/
Pingback: How Much Are Black Cherry Trees Worth? - The Timberland Investor
Hello! I am planning on transplanting some Black Cherry trees! But I am wondering does there need to be other black cherry trees in the area for it to properly pollinate and bare fruit? I have researched this a lot and only find info on other cherry species. I do have a good amount of pollinators in my area like bees and butterflies, but just wondering if I would need other trees. Thanks!
Hi Joseph, It’s always a good idea to have more than one specimen of the same species for better pollination and successful fruit set, almost regardless of the species. If you are already transplanting multiple Black Cherry trees, you may be fine. Good luck!
Ok thanks!
I have been looking for information on this as well. I thought in the past I read you need at least two trees to produce fruit on prunus serotina but I have not been able to confirm this again recently. I have several growing here and there around my yard, but no flowering yet so maybe not mature enough yet. Hopefully soon, patience patience! thanks for the question and answer!
A little maturity and some sun and you should see them bein to flower. They’re great trees!
Black cherry flowers alhough they look like this, generally bllom at the top of a 40-60 foot tall tree and you rrely see them. Your photograps of flowers are from the choke cherry, which is a small tree no more than 15-20 fet tall, common in the understory.
Hi Mark, You are correct that the flower clusters of both Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) and Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) are very similar looking. Both are in a raceme, an unbranched flower cluster in which each flower has a stem. The flowers in this photo are from Black Cherry. Whether or not the flowers of Black Cherry (or really any flowering tree) are visible on low branches depends on the sun exposure and growing conditions of the individual plant. If a Black Cherry tree is growing in a wood area and is surrounded by other trees, then likely only its top branches will get enough exposure to sun to produce flowers. The tree may not even have branches low enough to see very well. If a Black Cherry (or other flowering tree) is in a more open area where it can maintain low branches, and those branches get good sun exposure, then they will likely produce flowers.
Pingback: Black Cherry Tree | 4-H G.O.E.S
Pingback: A Thistle Banquet | The Natural Web
I have two Bing cherry trees and in one night something ate all the cherry what could do that
It could be racoons. They are active at night.
We should not forget the animals that feed on the seeds and berries that fall to the ground… like our native Box turtles!
Good point!
Reblogged this on Living a wabi-sabi life….
Pingback: Northern Prickly-ash | The Natural Web
Pingback: Black Cherry Trees for Wildlife – Wildlife Gardening Canada
One benefit I have noticed of the wild cherry is that it helps keep the birds out of my blueberries since the birds seem to prefer the wild cherries. Unfortunately the wild cherry season doesn’t last quite as long as my blueberry season.
Nice pics, and I enjoyed the entry.
Interesting observation about the birds’ eating preference. Thanks, Bonnie!
WOW!! Here are some fabulous photos of a few of my favorite things. . I have never seen a yellow billed cuckoo up close. Thanks for sharing your work. I use all these gems in my work at Silver Lake.
I’m glad you find the posts helpful!
A beautiful tree in woodlots in Pennsylvania. Valuable too, so much so that timber pirates will sneak onto properties and cut them down and steal the lumber. Also targeted by the lumber pirates who offer to “manage” wood lots for people and literally “cherry” pick the most valuable trees like Black Cherry and Black Walnut.
A very valuable tree!