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Black cherry Facts

Black cherry Facts
Black cherry is deciduous tree that belongs to the family of roses. It originates from North America. There are two subspecies of black cherry. One can be found in the USA and Canada, while other grows in Mexico and Guatemala. Black cherry prefers moist, well-drained, loose soil (sandy soil or clay) and areas that provide either full sun or partial shade, such as open fields, edges of forests and areas near the roads. People cultivate black cherry in ornamental purposes and as a source of high-quality wood.
Interesting Black cherry Facts:
Black cherry can reach 60 to 80 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Tree develops 30 to 60 feet wide crown.
Black cherry has dark grey, reddish, brown or nearly black bark. During the first 10 years of the plant's life, black cherry has thin, nearly smooth bark. After that period, bark becomes stiff and scaly.
Black cherry has narrow, oval leaves with pointed tips. They are finely toothed on the edges and alternately arranged on the branches. Leaves are thick, dark green on the upper side and light green on the bottom side.
Black cherry produces miniature, white, fragrant flowers gathered in columns.
Black cherry blooms during the April and May and produces flowers with both types of reproductive organs (bisexual). Black cherry can perform self-pollination when specialized pollinators such as flies, bees and beetles are not available.
Fruit of black cherry are single-seeded berries. Immature berries are orange in color. Mature berries are purple or black-colored and have bitter sweet taste.
Black cherry starts to produce fruit at the age of 10 years. Even though black cherry can produce fruit until the age of 170 years, fruit of best quality and in the greatest amount is produced between the ages of 30 to 100 years.
Black cherry propagates via seed and cuttings.
Black cherry is important source of food for the mammals and birds. Deer, rabbits and hares eat leaves and seedlings. Opossum, raccoon, squirrels, mockingbirds, thrashers, sparrows and robins eat fruit.
Fruit-eating birds and mammals facilitate dispersal of seed (they eliminate undigested seed via feces).
Leaves, twigs and bark produce hydrogen cyanide after removal from the stem or as an answer to the injury. Hydrogen cyanide is toxic compound that can induce severe intoxication of livestock.
People consume fruit of black cherry in the form of pies, jellies and jams. These berries are also used in the manufacture of liqueurs and as flavoring agents of sodas, ice-creams, wines and whiskeys.
Inner bark of black cherry is used in the manufacture of cough syrup.
Black cherry has strong, orange-reddish wood that is highly prized in the industry of furniture, veneer, cabinets, toys and handles.
Black cherry can survive from 150 to 200 years in the wild.


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