General characteristics of a Black Cherry
An exotic species, meaning one not native to our native flora, is the American bird cherry, Prunus serotina, also known as the black cherry. The American bird cherry is a deciduous shrub to a low tree. The bark on young stems has distinct horizontal lenticels and has a strong odor (almond scent) when damaged. The leaves are elliptical with a distinct point and are highly glossy and completely hairless on top. After flowering, small black drupes are formed and are primarily eaten by starlings.
This species is invasive when present in large numbers and can grow in bright light on relatively dry soil. Due to its invasive nature, planting is discouraged!
Characteristics
How to plant a Black Cherry
Invasive exotic species, not supplied.
How to harvest a Black Cherry
Harvest but do not replant.
Where does a Black Cherry grow
The American bird cherry is native to North and Central America. The species was introduced into Europe and has spread through plantings into our forests. It grows on all sandy soils, both in mixed and deciduous forests. It has few requirements regarding its location. The plant grows primarily on fairly acidic, but not too nutrient-poor, and fairly dry sandy and loamy soils. From the conifer stands where the species was originally planted, it has established itself in deciduous forests with a more natural composition (sensible oak-beech and birch-oak) and in copses and hedgerows within agricultural areas. Outside of forests, the species establishes itself in heathlands and open dune areas.
General
| Origin |
Alien
Invasive
|
| Tree Type | Shrub |
Length and Age
| Length in about 10 years | Up to Meter |
| Reproductive Maturity in How Many Years | 0 Up to 30 year |
| Maximum Age | 80 Up to 120 year |
| Required Space | Up to m2 |
| Growth Rate |
Reproduction
| Tree is Self-Pollinating | Yes |
| Reproduction Method |
Makes seedlings
|
| Reproduction rate |
|
Reproduction rate
| 1. Very low reproduction rate. The plant hardly spreads, has few seeds or vegetative spread (e.g., trees with heavy seeds). |
| 2. Low reproduction rate. Spread via limited seed production or specific conditions required |
| 3. Average reproduction rate. Regular spread, depending on wind, water, or animals, at a moderate speed (e.g., dandelion). |
| 4. High reproduction rate. Many seeds and multiple spread strategies (wind, birds, vegetative). Quickly colonizes open spaces |
| 5. Very high reproduction rate. Invasive species that spread explosively over large distances (e.g., Japanese knotweed). |
Pruning Period
| This Tree is Evergreen | Yes |
| Summer | No pruning in summer |
| Winter | January tot March |
| Leaf Shapes | Elliptical |
| Easy to prune | No |
Bark Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Lenticels | Yes |
| Colour |
Bud Characteristics Seedling (50-200cm)
| Colour | |
| Bud Position | Information not available |
| Bud Shape |
Egg-shaped
|
Other
| Root | Information not available |
| Bloom |
Has flowers
Has fruits
|
| Wind sensitivity | Moderately sensitive to (sea) wind |
Diseases
| Sensitive to the Following Diseases | Information not available |
Harvest/recognition in winter
The reddish-brown twigs are slender, rounded, and smooth with small, light brown buds. The species is easily recognizable by the gray stripes across the twig's growth and by the distinctly bitter almond odor released when the twigs are scratched. Young trunks and branches have thin, smooth, reddish-brown bark. With age, the bark splits into distinctive scales with curled edges. Forest trees have a branchless, straight, often slightly winding trunk and slender branches with drooping tips.
Light requirement of the Black Cherry
Suitable soil types for the Black Cherry
| Soil type | Suitability |
|---|---|
| light clay |
|
| heavy clay |
|
| sand |
|
| peatland |
|
| Loam |
|
| Moerig op zand |
|
| Lichte zavel |
|
| Zware zavel |
|
Humidity
Suitable acidity level for the Black Cherry
Nutritional needs of the Black Cherry
| 1. | Very nutrient-poor soil |
| 2. | Very nutrient-poor to nutrient-poor soil |
| 3. | Nutrient-poor soil |
| 4. | Nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich soil |
| 5. | Moderately nutrient-rich soil |
| 6. | Moderately nutrient-rich to nutrient-rich soil |
| 7. | Nutrient-rich soil |
| 8. | Extremely nutrient-rich soil |
| 9. | Very extremely nutrient-rich soil |
Humidity
| 1. | Extremely dry soils |
| 2. | Extremely dry to dry soils |
| 3. | Dry soils |
| 4. | Dry to dry/moist soils |
| 5. | Dry/moist soils |
| 6. | Dry/moist to moist soils |
| 7. | Moist soils |
| 8. | Moist to wet soils |
| 9. | Wet soils |
To be applied in landscapes
| Landscape | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Agroforestry |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Hedge |
|
| Forest |
|
| Feeding hedge |
|
| Back yard |
|
| Small back yard |
|
| Solitary |
|
| Wood wall |
|
Cultural-historical value
Insects
| How many insects typically live on this tree/plant? | 64 |
| Which insect groups live on this tree/plant? |
|
| Are there insects dependent on this species? | No |
| Which insect species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Birds
| Average number of birds per tree/plant? | |
| Which bird groups live on this tree/plant? |
common blackbirds
common wood pigeons
|
Mammals
| Average number of mammals per tree/plant? | |
| Which mammal groups live on this tree/plant? |
wild boars
foxes
|
| Are there mammals dependent on this species? | No |
| Which mammal species are dependent on this tree/plant? |
Bloom Period
| Summer | May Up to June |
Tree Species
| Tree species that this tree prefers to grow with |
|
Suitable for mammals?
| Mammal | Suitability |
|---|---|
| Goat |
|
| Chicken |
|
| Cow |
|
| Human |
|
| Herbivorous rodents |
|
| Horse |
|
| Deer |
|
| Dog |
|
| Badgers |
|
| Beavers |
|
| Squirrel |
|
| Ferret |
|
| Cat |
|
| Mouse |
|
| Roe deer |
|
| Sheep |
|
| Pig |
|
| Foxes |
|
| Wild boar |
|
Explanation
Explanation
Edibility
- Toxic: This tree or shrub is toxic to mammals and absolutely unsuitable for consumption.
- Very unsuitable: This tree or shrub is unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can be harmful.
- Unsuitable: This tree or shrub is generally unsuitable for consumption by mammals and can have adverse effects.
- Moderately suitable: This tree or shrub is moderately suitable as food for mammals, possibly with certain risks or limitations.
- Suitable: This tree or shrub is generally suitable as food for mammals, with little to no risks.
- Very suitable: This tree or shrub is very suitable as food for mammals, safe, and of high nutritional value.
Trunk Height
Average Trunk Height (hg) of the basal area median tree
Information not available
Trunk Diameter
(dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree.
Information not available
Aboveground Biomass
in whole kgInformation not available
Belowground Biomass
in whole kgInformation not available
Substance Binder
| Which substances can be bound or absorbed? |
CO2
Particulate matter
|
Carbon Attraction (kf)
| (dg) (1.30m) of the basal area median tree | Deciduous Trees (Kf = 0,48) |
Warming Resistance
| This tree is well resistant to the warming (plus 3 degrees) of our climate and fits into the future of our climate (heat and drought resistant). | Yes |
CO2
| 0. | not filled in |
| 1. | no storage |
| 2. | low storage |
| 3. | moderate storage |
| 4. | high storage |
| 5. | very high storage |
Fine Dust
| 0. | not filled in |
| 1. | no capture capacity |
| 2. | low capture capacity |
| 3. | moderate capture capacity |
| 4. | high capture capacity |
| 5. | very high capture capacity |
This is what an adult tree Black Cherry looks like
This is what the fruits of a Black Cherry look like
This is what a Black Cherry in bloom looks like
This is what the leaf of a Black Cherry looks like
