Wild Black Cherry

Wild Black Cherry

Prunus serotina

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

▲ ▼ seedlings

▲ ▼ young plants

▲ mature tree, in flower

▲ stem with leaves

▲ flowers

▲ immature fruit

Location on or near Missouri State University Campus: in lawn area south of Lot 22, south of Grand Avenue

Wild Black Cherry:

Native, fast-growing, large-growing tree with alternate, shiny, lanceolate leaves with tiny teeth on the margins
Has racemes of white flowers in spring, followed by 1/4" diameter dark-purple fruit that are favored by many birds
Commonly found sprouting and growing in pastures, fencerows, fallow fields
Is a problem as a woody species in pastures, and especially because dried foliage is toxic to livestock (contains cyanide)
Similar species, Chokecherry (pp. 512-513, Weeds of the Great Plains; pp. 360-361, Weeds of the Northeast)
- Has more oval leaves, and is a small to medium sized tree
- Can spread by seed and root sprouts
- Fruit is red to black at maturity, but very astringent
- Also releases cyanide from dried leaves