Black Cherry

The range of Prunus serotina includes most of eastern North America as far north as southern Canada.  It extends west into Texas and there are spotty occurrences as far west as Arizona.  In Florida, the range appears to be continuous as far south as the central peninsula after which it disappears, a pattern generally associated with temperature.  This species should grow well down to the central peninsula.

Some people consider this to be a weed tree.  This author has it in my "field" where it is thriving and very welcome.  It is an early successional tree, but not a problem plant.  The tree lis an important component of deciduous forests in north Florida and eastern North America.



Shade tree. Useful for informal reforestation of old grove land.

Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.



Moderate. Tolerant of salty wind and may get some salt spray. Exposure to salt spray would be uncommon (major storms).

Leaves and twigs are highly poisonous to livestock, pets and humans.

Birds and other animals eat the fruits.  Birds are the primary disperser into old fields and hedge rows.

Dry sites. Upland mixed forest, upland hardwood forest, secondary woods, old fields, sandhill, ruderal areas.

• Fall color, Showy flowers
• Bees are pollinators.
• Larval host for tiger swallowtail.