This week, we must appreciate the robust black cherry (
Prunus serotina). This specimen has gone above and beyond what we could ask of any tree; it's been a real self-starter. Without any assistance from the arboretum staff, this black cherry germinated in the perfect spot, next to the long, white wooden bridge. In 2004, its efforts were first noticed, and it was included in the arboretum collection, as a volunteer for the native-plant-cause. Furthermore, after the tree established itself, it began to serve as a trellis for a native wistera vine (
Wisteria frutescens). Anyone who has cultivated wisteria vines understands that this is not for the faint of heart, given the aggressive nature of the vine. Finally, despite the sweltering conditions of the season, this very special black cherry provides tasty victuals, in the form of its famous black fruit to arboretum guests, mostly birds.
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| When standing in the full sun during the heat of the day, everything is a blur. Our tree of the week is pictured center, but it is almost indistinguishable from its surroundings. |
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| Stepping into the shade of a maple, we have a better view: the black cherry is pictured center, to the left of the white bridge and to the right of a laurel oak (Quercus hemisphaerica). This is a nice, comparatively comfortable spot, and the black cherry is contributing to the shadiness. |
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| Covered in thick, woody vines, the black cherry leans westward, perhaps vying for extra sunlight, as this is considered a shade-intolerant species. |
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| Native wisteria (Wisteria frutescens) is the only official climber. |
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| Thick, gray wisteria vines are twisting around the black cherry trunk. Several other vine species have volunteered here and are routinely cut back. |
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| This is maturing black cherry bark: smooth and beautifully ringed immature bark appears to be flaking off, revealing rough, dark blocks of bark. |
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| Black cherry leaves are simple. They are narrow with an elliptic shape that tapers off to a point. They alternate along the branchlet. |
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| The upper surface of the leaf is glossy and green. Leaves are approximately 4 inches in length, but leaf-length can vary by 2 inches. |
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| The lower surface of the leaf is light-green. Little orange particles line the midrib. This picture also shows the serrated edges. |
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| Fruits are hanging from the branches this week. They are going fast. The birds don't allow the fruits to fully ripen; most are plucked and disappear down the bird gullet before they turn black. |
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| New leaves and fruits are pictured on the same twig. |
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| These ripening fruits measure under half an inch. When fully matured and at peak flavor, they will be black. |
There are three other black cherries in the arboretum collection. Last year, in late May, we disussed one such speciman. You can read about that individual
here. It's an older tree, but its bark looks less mature.
For more information about this species consult the following:
Virginia Tech Dendrology
NC State Extension
