← Bedfellow

Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Pendant racemes of white flowers, then dark cherries devoured by birds. Host plant for over 400 lepidoptera species.

Family

Rosaceae

Type

tree

Lifespan

perennial

Height

50–80 ft

Spacing

30–60 ft apart

Light

sun, part shade, shade

Soil moisture

dry, moist

Soil pH

acidic, neutral

Bloom

March, April, May, June

Bloom colors

white

Wildlife value

songbirds, butterflies, larval host, pollinators

Caterpillar hosts

~456 butterfly & moth species

Landscape uses

specimen, erosion control

Native states

AL, AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV