The wild cherry tree, Prunus serotina, is a widespread deciduous tree across North America. It commonly inhabits diverse landscapes, from dense forests to open fields. Recognizing its key visual characteristics is fundamental for accurate identification.
Recognizable Bark
For young wild cherry trees, the bark typically appears smooth, glossy, and reddish-brown, often marked with prominent horizontal lenticels, small, elongated pores. As the tree matures, its bark transforms, becoming darker, grayish-brown to black. This older bark develops a rougher texture, breaking into small, irregular, scaly plates that frequently curl upwards. This distinctive texture is often compared to “burnt potato chips” or cornflakes.
Where outer bark plates have peeled away, the reddish-brown or orange-brown color of the inner bark may become visible. The presence of horizontal bands of lenticels is a consistent feature, even on older trees. This bark characteristic is one of the most reliable identification features, especially in winter when leaves and flowers are absent.
Distinctive Leaves
The leaves of the wild cherry tree are simple and alternately arranged along the branches. They typically display an oval to elongated, lance-shaped appearance, tapering to a fine point at the tip. The leaf margins are finely toothed, often with small, inward-curving teeth.
The upper surface of the leaves is generally dark green and glossy, contrasting with a paler green underside. A key identifying feature is the presence of one or two small, reddish or blackish glands (nectaries) on the petiole (leaf stalk) near the base of the leaf blade. In autumn, these leaves transition to attractive shades of yellow to reddish-orange.
Seasonal Flowers and Fruit
In spring, typically after the leaves emerge, wild cherry trees produce small, white, five-petaled flowers. These flowers are arranged in elongated, drooping clusters called racemes, measuring 4-6 inches long. The flowers often possess a fragrant, almond-like scent, attracting pollinators.
After flowering, these blooms develop into small, round, pea-sized fruits (drupes) during the summer. Initially green, these fruits transition to reddish, then dark purple or black when fully ripe. Like the flowers, the fruits grow in clusters along the raceme. While a food source for wildlife, its taste can be somewhat tart or bitter for humans.
Overall Tree Structure and General Habitat
The wild cherry tree is a medium to large deciduous tree, commonly reaching heights of 50 to 80 feet, and occasionally up to 100 feet in optimal conditions. Its crown typically starts as conical in youth and develops into an oval or irregular shape, becoming more spreading and rounded with age. Branches often grow horizontally or slightly ascending from the main trunk.
This tree exhibits adaptability in its growth habit; it can grow straight and tall with a clear trunk in dense forest settings or appear more sprawling and multi-stemmed in open areas. Wild cherry trees are commonly found in a variety of environments across North America, including open woodlands, forest edges, abandoned fields, fencerows, and along roadsides. This wide distribution reflects its ability to thrive in diverse conditions.