Black Cherry Tree

The black cherry tree (Prunus serotina) is a very common tree found throughout Frederick County in hedgerows, along roadsides, fields, or any other disturbed areas that have abundant sunlight. The black cherry is known as a pioneer species, because it’s one of the first trees to colonize abandoned fields, and it needs plenty of sun to develop properly. This tree grows quickly, forming very rough, black-red bark that looks somewhat like corn flakes cereal. Cherries produce an attractive white flower in late April to May, and a green berry that turns dark purple-black in August. The fruit is not edible to humans without boiling in water, but many birds eagerly devour them. The leaves and twigs of cherry produce a substance containing cyanide, which can be poisonous to livestock and other animals.