Fruits are hanging from the limbs of the black cherry (
Prunus serotina). These black cherries are indeed edible and do taste good, but you will be competing against the arboretum's permanent residents and migratory visitors for the privilege. Most fruit is taken before it is fully ripe.
There are four individual black cherry trees in the arboretum collection. These are older trees with their lower limbs removed, making most of the fruit out of reach. The oldest specimen was planted in the fall of 1992, brought from Sabine Parish by Joe Dewill. The images below, taken with the aid of a ladder, are from this 25-year-old specimen.
 |
| These fruits of the Prunus serotina are bright red and not quite ripe. |
 |
| Hungry wildlife usually snatch up the fruits before they turn blackish purple. |
 |
| Fruit detail |
 |
| Branchlet of Prunus serotina |
 |
| Prunus serotina leaf detail |
 |
| Mature bark of 25 year-old-tree, heavily ringed and fissured |
 |
| Another look at mature bark detail, features less prominent |
For more information about this species consult the following:
United States Department of Agriculture
University of Florida IFAS Extension
Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours (LSU AgCenter)
