Height 50-80' occasionally to 100 feet, spread
from 35-50' hardy from zone 3-9.
National champion 138' is found near
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Black Cherry is a large tree native to
most of of the United States from Maine south to Florida west to
Arizona. Black Cherry has a narrow, oblong head of small, horizontal
branches. The bark is bitter, aromatic, yielding hydrocyanic acid, used
in medicine. It is best to keep the black cherry out of any area where
grazing animals are present as the cyanide is dangerous to the critters.
The bark is dark red-brown, with fissures, rough and peels easily,
smooth and of a brown- red color when young, when old very rough, plated. The wood is hard,
moderately heavy,
close grained, very small pores, reddish brown, used in cabinet work,
furniture and trim. Weighs 36 pounds per cubic foot. Black
Cherry is one of the woods used in the flooring called "woods of the
north" from Meeder Lumber Mancelona, Mi. We have used black cherry trim
in 3 rooms in our house. The leaves are simple, oval or oblong, tapering
at both ends, wavy-margined and fine toothed, thin, shiny, dark green,
bitter and aromatic when crushed, 2-5" long turning yellow in the fall.
The flowers in May-June and are white, in long close- flowered racemes, small, flowering
later than other wild cherries usually when the leaves are half grown.
Fruit is pea sized berries, bitter when crushed, can be used in pies,
ripening in August, fruit for birds and other game and also useful for
yanking off by the handfuls to use as ammo when playing with the kids.
Black cherry is a valuable tree for lumber and as an ornamental shade
tree. It can be messy in some yards. It is a fast grower. I have one
right smack in front of one of the doors to the red barn, when I built
the barn in 1983 the tree was just a little sapling and I didn't have
the heart to cut it down and now it is 50' tall and 2' in diameter.
Black cherry can tolerate wet to dry, acid to alkaline soils. It does
best in full sun or partial shade. The tree has relatively shallow root
system so is susceptible to damage from vehicles. Lawnmower damage is
common as my big black cherry can testify. My oldest daughter bumped it
a few times in the early 90's and now has major sections of bark missing
and as a result the upper branches on the side with the damage are
dying. The black cherry is a beautiful tree and should be more
extensively planted as it is only found occasionally in a wild setting.
The black cherry has a few pests
though none serious. The eastern tent caterpillar prefers the cherry
tree and makes it's nest in it if possible. Spraying is usually not
necessary and the pest is usually gone in a few weeks.
The rose chafer is a leaf chewer that is more annoying
than destructive.
To buy black cherry
seedlings or to
check prices on other evergreens click the blue link below.
Cultivars only one known, Spring
Sparkle
We have black cherry up to 8'. Call for B+B prices.
30 year old black cherry
ripened fruit
To order Black Cherry seedlings by PHONE:
We're glad to take your order by phone @ 231-544-6769. Phone orders can be charged to VISA or MasterCard accounts.
To buy black cherry seedling by MAIL: For those who wish to
order by mail or prefer to send a check, send orders to:
Porcupine Hollow Farm
8593 W. State Rd. Central Lake, Mi. 49622
To order Black cherry saplings using our secure shopping cart:
WILD
BLACK CHERRY 
