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WILD CHERRY TREE

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Straight_arrow  Send Straight_arrow a private message!


My Weather
Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 - 06:42 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I would like to know where I could buy a Wild Cherry Tree like the ones you see in the woods. I also would like to know if this would be a nice tree to have in town in your yard?

I live in Ohio.

Straight_arrow - OHIO, Zone "5"
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Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 08:45 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have a wild pin cherry and chokecherry. Managed to get one of the former from seed and several of the latter from seed..they grow fast. Seeds require cold stratification for wild cherries and I got them from Gardens North. I haven't seen wild varieties in any nursery here....most people want the big fat domesticated ones but pin cherry jelly cannot be beaten!!!!

Stephie
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My Weather
Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2008 - 06:12 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

The tree that I am talking about is a Black Cherry Tree. Does anyone have one in their backyard and what do you think about it?

Straight_arrow - OHIO, Zone "5"
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Posted on Thursday, April 24, 2008 - 08:52 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

If you mean prunus serotine, it hasn't got too much to recommend it...it's leaves are highly toxic to animals, the berries are for the birds...literally...bitter...and it can grow into a fairly poorly formed tree. However, there's lots of info on the web about it to make your mind up about it but in my opinion there are alot better choices for wild cherry than this one. I have wild deer so wouldn't consider it at all.

Stephie
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Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 02:08 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

While I tend to agree with Stephie's overall assessment, I have a little bit higher opinion of it. When grown right, P. serotina can make for a nice tree. Large specimens are valued by woodworkers and the fruit is edible, but you have to wait until it fully ripens. While astringent, the drupes are suitable for pies and jams. Its probably moot since by the time it fully ripens the birds will have stripped it clean. This goes without saying, but what goes in must come out. This can create a bit of a mess and clean freaks may find this a major liability. I find the flowers attractive (even showy), and in good years fall color could be considered above average. I also find the bark attractive at all stages of development.

Like many trees in the genus Prunus, it does have its liabilities. I've got one that's about 20' tall now that has been afflicted with tent caterpillars (common problem in these parts). Black knot can also be a problem.

Black Cherry is almost weedy around here and seldom if ever found at nurseries. However, they do have their place and I wouldn't hesitate to plant one away from the house and garden. Otherwise, I'd take Stephie's advice and look for something having a bit more garden merit.

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 03:59 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

One good thing about it is you can plant beneath it. Also it doesn't seem to drop many branches.

Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"
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Posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 - 07:36 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Check with your county extension.. in some areas it is considered terribly invasive. We have them around our property but I don't know for sure if it's wild black cherry. I trimmed one up that grows on the edge of our property and it's now beautifully shaped. Others.. not so much. If you're looking for a tree for birds to enjoy, you might consider a serviceberry tree. They are pretty, native, and the birds enjoy the fruit. I bought mine at a local nursery but they grow readily in the woods.

Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "Zone 5"
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Posted on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 05:38 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

How can it be considered invasive if it's native?

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 08:27 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Good point. Can a native species act invasive if the ecological niche is disturbed?

Stephie
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 10:45 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Zonenvy wrote on Thursday, May 01, 2008 - 05:38 pm:

How can it be considered invasive if it's native?

Just because something is native doesn't mean it's native to every state. You can use http://plants.usda.gov/java/noxiousDriver to determine if something is going to be invasive. If you do a common name search for "black cherry", then follow the link for "Prunus serotina" and scroll down that page, it shows where it can be invasive and where its varieties are native.

Heirloomgardens - Massachusetts, Zone "5b"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 12:05 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Prunus serotina was first brought to the US in the 1700's...it was orginally a European tree. Therefore, it strictly isn't native but has adapted to most parts of northeastern US and Canada.

Stephie
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 01:36 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Heirloom -- I understand what you're saying, but I'm still skeptical the native Black Cherry is "invasive." Yes, it might be weedy, but I'm reluctant to throw it in the same category as Rosa multiflora, Rhamnus cathartica, and other disastrous exotics. The site you've referanced lists one source classifying it as "weedy," and this is for the northeast. The USDA site also shows it being native to all states east of the Mississippi. I'm not a bioligist, but I think its a disservice to lump native trees like Prunus serotina in with those that truly deserve our scorn. I may be totally wrong about this, in which case I look forward to being brought up to speed.

Stephie -- I have never heard that P. serotina is not a true native, but rather an introduced species that has become naturalized. Where did you find out about this?

~Bob

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 04:14 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I got the wrong cherry tree...ooops! Twenty lashes with a thorny aralia! I agree that native plants, though perhaps possibly "weedy" don't tend to become invasive like alien plantlife...carrying the destructive habit of pushing out native flora. The ecosystem, left undisturbed, has ways of putting the brakes on invasiveness...it's how balance develops...so native plants live in relative harmony until some fool comes along with something like goutweed or purple loostrife (or my favorite on the coast BROOM) and upsets the whole apple cart.

Stephie
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 05:12 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

"Twenty lashes with a thorny aralia!"

Ouch! Since we're having a debate on natives vs. invasives, maybe you should make it Oplopanax horridus. ;)

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 05:30 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Zonenvy wrote on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 01:36 pm:

Heirloom -- I understand what you're saying, but I'm still skeptical the native Black Cherry is "invasive."

Zonenvy wrote on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 01:36 pm:

I think its a disservice to lump native trees like Prunus serotina in with those that truly deserve our scorn.



I never said it was invasive, nor did I lump it in with such things. I simply made a point about the meaning of "native" and directed interested persons to a link that could help them decide if it (or anything else) might be invasive in their own area.

Heirloomgardens - Massachusetts, Zone "5b"
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Sunnyday2day  Send Sunnyday2day a private message!



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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 06:05 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I got this excerpt from a link I will include.
U.S. Weed Information:
Prunus serotina Ehrh.

black cherry


This plant can be weedy or invasive according to the authoritative sources noted below. This plant may be known by one or more common names in different places, and some are listed above. Click on an acronym to view each weed list, or click here for a composite list of Weeds of the U.S.

Prunus Serotina

Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "Zone 5"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 06:06 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Ok, perhaps I overreacted to your posting. If so, please accept my apologies.

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 06:26 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Hmmm, I think we've gone full circle now. Sunny, I've gone through the USDA reference and it shows exactly one source (i.e. "Weeds of the Northeast" list). Again, this tree is shown to be native to every state east of the Mississippi River, which leads me back to my original question: Can (or perhaps should) a native tree be classified as "INVASIVE" if its native to the area? There's no arguement from me that it can be a weedy tree, but is it helpful in the fight against truly invasive exotic species, some of which were mentioned above, to put this tree on such a list? My feeling is it detracts from the real battle at hand.

~Zzzzz

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Friday, May 02, 2008 - 07:20 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I thought I understood the article to show that the tree is originally Canadian and has 'naturalized' in many portions of the U.S. Someone's 'weedy' is another someone else's invasive. I know someone who sees purple loosestrife as a beautiful flower to be grown in their garden.. other people find it a threat to Michigan waterways, etc. I know in MI the wild cherry trees are at least considered a weedy nuisance. I believe what I originally advised the person who wanted one.. check with your local county extension. It may or may not be a desirable choice. Maybe kudzu wouldn't have a hold on the south if someone had taken the time to test it's growth potential.

Sunnyday2day - Michigan, Zone "Zone 5"
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Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2008 - 07:17 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Straight_arrow,

We've strayed far from your OP and I don't think we fully answered your question. If you don't mind mail order, Forest Farm is a dependable MO nursery based in Oregon. I've ordered from them a couple of times, with the service and quality being excellent.

http://www.forestfarm.com/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=prse090

Zonenvy - Wisconsin, Zone "4"
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Posted on Saturday, May 03, 2008 - 09:34 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I could look around the yard but they will be small.

Loretta - NJ, Zone "6"

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