Page 46 - A Field Guide to Fairfax County's Plants and Wildlife
P. 46
ck Cherry
(Prunus serotina)
Description
Black Cherry grows up to
18 to 30 meters in height
and 0.3 to 1.25 meters
in diameter. The leaves
are alternate, thick and
leathery with serrated
edges. In the spring,
they have small white
flowers in clusters 10 to
15 centimeters long. The
ripe fruit is dark purple to
almost black.
Black Cherry is the largest of the Distribution and Habitat
native cherries in the United States.
The dense, richly colored wood is Black Cherry trees are found
used to make fine furniture. throughout Virginia in all five
physiographic provinces. They grow
best in mountains and prefer sites
Native Americans used Black Cherry that are not too wet or very dry.
bark to make cough medicine. Role in Food Web
The fruit is an important food source
for many birds including American
Robins, European Starlings, Northern Cardinals, woodpeckers, sparrows
and Wild Turkeys, and for mammals such as Virginia Opossums, Red Foxes,
Raccoons, squirrels and rabbits.
r 42 r
(Prunus serotina)
Description
Black Cherry grows up to
18 to 30 meters in height
and 0.3 to 1.25 meters
in diameter. The leaves
are alternate, thick and
leathery with serrated
edges. In the spring,
they have small white
flowers in clusters 10 to
15 centimeters long. The
ripe fruit is dark purple to
almost black.
Black Cherry is the largest of the Distribution and Habitat
native cherries in the United States.
The dense, richly colored wood is Black Cherry trees are found
used to make fine furniture. throughout Virginia in all five
physiographic provinces. They grow
best in mountains and prefer sites
Native Americans used Black Cherry that are not too wet or very dry.
bark to make cough medicine. Role in Food Web
The fruit is an important food source
for many birds including American
Robins, European Starlings, Northern Cardinals, woodpeckers, sparrows
and Wild Turkeys, and for mammals such as Virginia Opossums, Red Foxes,
Raccoons, squirrels and rabbits.
r 42 r
