Black Cherry - Prunus serotina - Tree Seeds - BERRIES USED IN WINE MAKING - GORGEOUS FALL COLORS - Hardy Zones 4 - 9 - By MySeeds.Co (400 Seeds - 1 oz) Black Cherry, Prunus serotina, Fast! Hardy! Tree Seeds Black Cherry, Prunus serotina, Tree Seeds Hardy, Adaptable, Easy to Grow, Fast Growth, Long Lived, Fragrant Flowers, Fall Color, Edible Fruits, Attracts Birds, Wildlife Food/Shelter, Timber, Cold, Heat, Drought and Salt Tolerant The Black Cherry is the largest Native American Cherry. Its beautiful fragrant flower show, attraction to songbirds and its fall color make it a highly desirable shade tree if you have the room. A favorite native american tree, the handsome Black Cherry has a straight trunk and an oblong crown and usually grows 40 to 60 feet high, but can sometimes get as high as 100 feet tall. The bark is light to dark gray, developing scaly fissures with age. The oval to lance shaped shiny dark green leaves are 2 to 6 inches long and arranged alternately. They end in a sharp point and have fine teeth along the margins. When crushed, the leaves smell like Black Cherry soda pop. Before dropping in autumn, the leaves turn lovely shades of yellow, orange or red, but this varies with weather conditions and among seedlings. The fragrant tiny white flowers are borne abundantly in elongated drooping clusters 4 to 6 inches long. They appear in early spring as the leaves are unfolding. In flower, the Black Cherry is very showy and always abuzz with delighted insects. The cherries are dark red, almost black, about 0.33 inches in diameter and ripen in early summer. The leaves and inner bark of Black Cherry contain a cyanide compound that smells like almonds and was formerly used in cough medicines and liniments. The cherries are edible, if somewhat bitter and are used for jelly and wine making and to flavor brandy. Brandy or rum flavored with Black Cherries is called "Cherry Bounce." The cherries are eaten by all manner of wildlife and are especially relished by songbirds. Deer and rabbits eat the seedlings and saplings, and where abundant, these herbivores may prevent any Cherry trees from growing up. The wood is reddish brown, close grained and very hard. It is used for furniture, veneer, tool handles and has few rivals as a fine cabinet wood Other Names: Black Cherry Zone: 4 to 9 Growth Rate: Black Cherry grows fast and is quite long lived. Plant Type: Large Deciduous Fruiting Tree Family: Rosaceae Native Range: Canada to Eastern United States Height: 40 to 60 feet Spread: 35 to 50 feet Shape: Oval silhouette Bloom Time: May Bloom Color: White Flower/Fruit: Showy 1/3" white fragrant flowers borne in 4-6" pendulous racemes, followed by 1/3" red fruit, black when mature. Sun: Full Sun Fall Color: Lovely shades of yellow, orange, or red, Drought Tolerance: High Water: Moderate Maintenance: Medium Site Requirements /Soil Tolerances: Best in full sun, it cannot survive in shade. Will grow in dry sandy soil. Although somewhat tolerant of dry conditions, Black Cherry will respond best to rich, moist soil and a heavy mulch to keep the root zone cool. Plants should not be disturbed after becoming established and have a fairly shallow root system, making them susceptible to damage from anything stacked, stored, or parked within the dripline and slightly beyond. Culture: Black Cherry produces flowers and fruits every year but puts forth an especially abundant crop every 3 or 4 years. Needs little pruning to develop a strong structure. Uses: The Black Cherry is perfectly suited for the woodland, semi natural garden. It can be too messy in a more formal setting, dropping its abundant and juicy fruits in summer, then leaves in autumn.