Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
- Plant Type
- Tree (Deciduous)
- Landscape Layer
- Canopy
- Sun
- ☀️ Full Sun, ⛅ Part Sun, ☁️ Shade
- Moisture
- 🏜️ Dry, 💧 Regular
- Soil
- Loam, Sand, Silt, Rocky / Acidic, Calcareous
- Bloom
- May, June
- Sociability
- S2 – Small groups
Pollinator Value
- 🔑 Keystone
- Prunus is a keystone genus supporting 407 species of butterflies and moths in the Ottawa-Gatineau ecoregion. Black cherry is the largest native cherry and a critical larval host for iconic species including Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Viceroy, Coral Hairstreak, and Hummingbird Clearwing. Its prolific fruit production makes it one of the most important mast trees for birds and mammals in eastern hardwood forests.
S13 407 lepidoptera; S10 exceptional wildlife value; S4 fruit consumed by 33 bird species
- 🐛 Larval Host
- Harkenclenus titus, Furcula borealis, Haploa clymene, Hemaris thysbe, Limenitis archippus, Ceratomia amyntor, Scopula limboundata, Paonias myops, Acronicta interrupta, Sphinx kalmiae, Pyrrharctia isabella, Hyles lineata, Limenitis arthemis, Xanthotype sospeta, Papilio glaucus
- ❄️ Winter Food Source
- Fruit is consumed by at least 13 bird species including American Robin, Ruffed Grouse, Wild Turkey, Eastern Bluebird, Wood Thrush, Veery, and Northern Bobwhite. Mammals including Gray Fox, American Red Fox, American Black Bear, and Deer Mouse also feed on the fruit. Rodents cache pits for winter consumption.
S57 13 bird species in avian diet database; S10 extensive bird and mammal list
Ecology & Conservation
- Proximity Score
- 0
- Native Status
- ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
- Closest Direction
- Local
- CEC Eco-Regions
- 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
- Rarity Notes
- Globally secure (G5) and nationally secure (N5) in both Canada and the United States. Ranked S5 (Secure) in Ontario and SNR (Not Ranked) in Quebec. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC. One of the most common native trees across eastern North America.
- Rarity Ranks
- QC SNR – Not Ranked, ON S5 – Secure
- Migration
- Stable
- Ecological Context
- A common and widespread tree of mesic to dry upland forests, fencerows, and disturbed woodlands throughout the Ottawa-Gatineau region. Thrives on well-drained loamy to sandy soils on north- and east-facing slopes. Associates with sugar maple, beech, white ash, and oaks in northern hardwood stands. Fast-growing and shade-intolerant as an adult, it relies on gap dynamics and seed banking for regeneration.
S41 Silvics of North America; S10 common in fencerows and forests; S62 Common in Ottawa
Permaculture & Companion Planting
- Roles
- Fortress/Barrier, Pollinator Attractor, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [HIGH]: S64 Xerces listed (source-classified)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 7-2, pp. 116)]
- Notes
- Functions as a canopy-layer wildlife attractor in food forest and restoration guilds. Its prolific fruit feeds birds that disperse seeds of associated species. Shallow root system may compete with nearby plantings. Cyanogenic leaf litter can suppress some understory growth in dense stands.
S72 Hemenway wildlife habitat role; S29 shallow-rooted, may produce suckers; S4 can be allelopathic to garden plants
Medicinal Properties ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →
ℹ
Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any plant for medicinal purposes. The information provided is compiled from secondary sources for educational purposes only.
Click here for more info →- Category
- Antitussive, Astringent, Pectoral, Sedative, Stomachic, Tonic, Febrifuge, Dermatological Aid
S29 PFAF medicinal categories; S28 Moerman categories including Cold Remedy, Cough Medicine, Febrifuge, Dermatological Aid
- Notes
- Widely used by Cherokee, Chippewa, and other Indigenous peoples. Inner bark of root, trunk, and branches used as cough suppressant, sedative, and tonic. Root bark tea eased labor pains. Decoction of inner bark treated laryngitis and sore throats. Root bark applied as wash for old sores and ulcers. Bark contains prunasin, a cyanogenic glycoside; medicinal properties destroyed by boiling, so bark is steeped in warm water only.
S28 56 Moerman Drug/Medicine uses across Cherokee, Chippewa, and others; S29 PFAF medicinal detail
Edibility & Foraging ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
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ℹ
Never ingest a plant unless you have 100% certainty of its identity and have consulted multiple reputable sources. The information provided in the Localeaf Plant Database is compiled from secondary sources for educational and historical purposes only.
Click here for more info →✅ Edible ✅ Commonly Eaten
- Foraging Notes
- Ripe fruit eaten raw or cooked in pies, jellies, and stews. Bark extract used commercially to flavor soft drinks, syrups, and baked goods. Twigs steeped as a beverage by Chippewa. Fruit must be fully ripe to avoid bitterness. Seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides and should be discarded.
S29 PFAF edible uses; S4 fruit used in beverages and cooking; S28 Cherokee and Chippewa food uses
- Toxicity
-
☠️ High Toxicity
All parts except ripe fruit contain cyanogenic glycosides (prunasin, amygdalin) that release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) upon tissue damage. Wilted leaves are especially dangerous as HCN concentration increases. Highly toxic to livestock, particularly cattle and horses. Symptoms include gasping, weakness, pupil dilation, convulsions, respiratory failure, and potentially death. Bark contains 500-3400 ppm HCN, leaves up to 2500 ppm.
S11 Toxicity=Severe; S4 poisonous parts detailed; S29 HCN in seeds and leaves; S31 HCN 500-3400 ppm in bark; S7 stock-poisoning plant
Seed Source
- Arboquebecium