Prunus serotina

RHS Plant Profile

black cherry

Other common names

American cherry, black choke, cabinet cherry, capulin, rum cherry, wild black cherry, wild rum cherry

Shrubs Trees

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A medium-sized, spreading, deciduous tree or large shrub. Glossy, dark green, lance-shaped leaves with finely-toothed margins turn yellow in autumn. Fragrant white flowers are borne in hanging clusters to 15cm long in early summer and are followed by red fruits that turn black in winter

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

Higher than 12 metres

Max Spread

wider than 8 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 20–50 years
Max Spread: wider than 8 metres
Max Height: Higher than 12 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Exposed or Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H6

Colour & Scent

Fragrance Flower

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Rosaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Spreading branched
Genus: Prunus can be deciduous or evergreen trees or shrubs with showy flowers in spring, and often good autumn foliage colour. Some have edible fruit in autumn, and a few species have ornamental bark
Name Status: Correct

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in moderately fertile soil in full sun

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens

Pruning

Pruning group 1

Pests

May be susceptible to cherry blackfly and other aphids, leaf-mining moths and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to silver leaf, blossom wilt and bacterial canker. High Risk Host for Xylella fastidiosa