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Rum Cherry, Mountain Black Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Eastern Wild Black Cherry, Bird Cherry, Escarpment Black Cherry, Plateau Wild Black Cherry

This tree provides nectar for pollinators and is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. You may see Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus) which has one flight from May-August, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), which has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north, Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) which has many flights from January-October at the gulf coast getting shorter as you move north, Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) which has two to three broods May-September, and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) has two broods from April-October. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, white-tailed deer and small mammals.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons | User: famartin

Larval Host for the

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

60-80'

30-60'

SIZE

SOIL

Moist, Well Drained

LIGHT

Full Sun

BENEFITS

Butterflies,, Bees, Moths, Ants, Mammals

NOTES

This is a top keystone species for wildlife, serving over 300 species of caterpillars! Fruits are bitter but can be made into jellies and jams. This tree is fire resistant. Bark, leaves, seeds and stems are poisonous to humans and pets. Can be prone to disease.

CHARACTERISTICS

Keystone Species, Edible Fruit

April, May

Large Tree

This 

flowers in

Black Cherry Tree

Prunus serotina

DETAIL VIEW

DESCRIPTION

This tree provides nectar for pollinators and is a larval host plant for several species of butterflies. You may see Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus) which has one flight from May-August, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus), which has three flights from February-November in the deep south and March-September in the north, Spring Azure (Celastrina ladon) which has many flights from January-October at the gulf coast getting shorter as you move north, Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) which has two to three broods May-September, and Red-spotted Purple (Limenitis arthemis astyanax) has two broods from April-October. Fruits are eaten by songbirds, wild turkeys, quail, white-tailed deer and small mammals.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons | User: famartin
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