{"id":19605,"date":"2022-07-07T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-07-07T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=19605"},"modified":"2025-07-31T11:41:49","modified_gmt":"2025-07-31T15:41:49","slug":"intro-to-trees-of-indiana-black-cherry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/intro-to-trees-of-indiana-black-cherry\/","title":{"rendered":"Intro to Trees of Indiana: Black Cherry"},"content":{"rendered":"

The classic and trusted book “Fifty Common Trees of Indiana” by T.E. Shaw was\u00a0published in 1956 as a user-friendly guide to local species.\u00a0\u00a0Nearly 70 years later, the publication has\u00a0been updated through a joint effort by the Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources,\u00a0Indiana 4-H<\/a>, and\u00a0the\u00a0Indiana Department of Natural Resources<\/a>, and reintroduced as “An Introduction to Trees of Indiana.”<\/p>\n

The\u00a0full publication<\/a>\u00a0is available for download for $7 in the Purdue Extension Education Store. The field guide helps identify common Indiana woodlot trees.<\/p>\n

Each week, the Intro to\u00a0Trees of Indiana web\u00a0series will offer a sneak peek at one species from the book, paired with an\u00a0ID That Tree video from Purdue Extension forester\u00a0Lenny Farlee<\/a>\u00a0to help visualize each species as it stands in the woods.\u00a0Threats to species\u00a0health\u00a0as well as\u00a0also\u00a0insight into the wood provided by the species, will be provided\u00a0through additional resources as well as the\u00a0Hardwoods of the Central Midwest<\/a>\u00a0exhibit of the Purdue Arboretum, if available.<\/p>\n

This week, we introduce the Black cherry or\u00a0Prunus serotina<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Black<\/a>This species, also known as wild black cherry, is characterized by shiny, oblong leaves with finely toothed margins, arranged alternately on slender twigs, as well as very dark, flaky bark. The white flowers, which appear in early summer, develop into clusters of small cherries that ripen from red to black in July and August.<\/p>\n

Black cherry, which is shade intolerant, is the only native, tree-sized cherry tree in Indiana. It is one of the quicker growing upland hardwood species in the state, and can grow to 60 to 80 feet tall and two to three feet in diameter.<\/p>\n

The species is found from the Great Plains east and from Central Florida to the very southern portion of Ontario to New Brunswick. It also grows from central Arizona south through Mexico. Pennsylvania, parts of West Virginia and New York have developed a reputation for having the best veneer quality and relative gum free cherry.<\/p>\n

Black cherry is susceptible to\u00a0gummosis<\/a>, or the depositing of resinous gum on the bark of the tree. Unfortunately, widespread gummosis caused by insect damage and other factors keeps many black cherry trees from reaching veneer quality, and reduces their value by as much as 90 percent (Cassens 2004). Black cherry trees are also susceptible to forest tent caterpillars and a variety of other insect attacks.<\/p>\n

According to the Hardwoods of the Central Midwest exhibit, black cherry is most commonly used for fine furniture and cabinets. It is also used for high-end face veneer, furniture, molding, architectural millwork, wood paneling and toys. In the past, it was used for printer\u2019s blocks, scientific instrument cases, pattern stock, and blocks for mounting electrotypes.<\/p>\n