Eastern Wild Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Dimensions:

• Height: 50’ - 80’

• Mature spread: 30’ - 60’

• Trunk Diameter: 2’ - 3’

Habitat and Range:

• grows in mesophytic forests

• occurs in every county in Kentucky

• grows along roadsides and fence rows and other open areas

Features:

• twigs smell like almonds when scratched

• can be heavily infested with tent caterpillars

• domestic livestock can be killed by eating black cherry leaves

History:

• most popular cabinet wood in Kentucky

• other former uses include carriages, and early Pullman and trolly cars

• today used for precision instruments, musical instruments, and furniture

• Mare Reproductive Loss Syndrome has been linked to the consumption of Eastern Tent Caterpillars (ETC) by pregnant mares

• fragrant flowers provide pollen and nectar for countless honeybees and native pollinators

• Native Americans ate the fruit of the wild black cherry