Black Cherry is a common, weedy, early-successional tree. The leaves release the distinctive cherry-like aroma of cyanide when crushed. Healthy leaves contain prunasin, which is converted to hydrogen cyanide (HCN) when the leaves are crushed. This highly toxic substance acts as a defense mechanism against herbivores.

The leaves are sometimes more elongate, approaching those of Pin Cherry (P. pensylvanica).

Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.

Black Cherry produces masses of white flowers in spring. The specific epithet serotina means "late" - it flowers later that other native cherries. This one was in full bloom in Chatham Co., NC 4/19/2003.

Flower detail.

Franklin, Macon Co., NC 5/13/06.

The flowers are followed by copious amounts of small cherries in early summer, which are quickly eaten and spread by birds.

Scotland Co., NC 7/1/07.

Clarendon Co., SC 6/14/07.

The cherries are small, black when ripe, and relatively taseless, neither sweet nor sour.

Durham Co., NC 7/4/03.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.

The bark is smooth when young, with horizontally elongated lenticels.

The Sweet Birch (Betula lenta) has similar bark.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/23/06.

The bark breaks into upturned plates when older.

Though Black Cherry can become a fairly large tree in the Appalachian Mountains, in the Piedmont and Coastal Plain it is very susceptible to disease and tends to be small and short-lived.