Black cherry trees grow up to 50 feet tall, live as long as 250 years and the birds are singing its praises!
Since it brings back memories of black cherry yogurt for dessert in the back garden of my childhood home, it’s no surprise that the black cherry is one of my favourite trees. I’m not alone in loving the black cherry. It’s been prized for its delicious fruit, beautiful flowers, and exquisite wood since as long ago as 300 BC. Its healing powers were traditionally used as a sedative, for pain relief during childbirth, to soothe coughs, and as a treatment for jaundice.
While this beautiful tree towers above many of its neighbours in southern Ontario, it can often resemble a shrub when found further north. It’s no surprise that it can be found all across Ontario though, as it’s not only loved by humans but is also a favourite of wildlife! Its fruit is so popular as a food source for birds that its seeds are spread far and wide! It also serves as a breeding ground for more butterflies than almost any other tree, thanks in part to its beautiful flowers. These striking white clusters also attract insects, but don’t worry, the birds will take care of these for you, as the black cherry also attracts a large number of birds. Orioles, red-bellied woodpeckers, and various warblers are all fans of black cherry trees. You can’t find a bird feeder that will attract warblers, but the black cherry tree is a warbler buffet. If you’re a bird lover, then the black cherry is definitely the tree for you!
While a mature black cherry has very unique bark, similar in appearance to burnt cornflakes, the young bark is shiny and striped, similar to a birch. In addition, the leaves turn a beautiful yellow to red colour in the autumn. White flowers in the early spring, red cherries in the late spring, green leaves throughout the summer and yellow to red leaves in the fall. This tree has it all!
We at LEAF love the black cherry for all the reasons listed above, but also because it is quite hardy. Give it some sun, provide it with proper care, and this tree will be beautifying your garden with its flowers, providing food and a home for countless species of wildlife and filling your basket with delicious fruit in no time. Cherry pie for everyone!
We’re really excited to have the black cherry tree as one of the species available through our Backyard Tree Planting Program. If you think that the black cherry tree might be a great fit for your yard, call us today to book a consultation with one of our arborists!
LEAF’s Backyard Tree Planting Program is supported by Ontario Power Generation, York Region and The City of Markham. Lisa Moore is the Residential Planting Programs Assistant at LEAF.
