Late Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), also known as black cherry, is a large tree or shrub reaching heights of 6–30 meters with a broad, dense, and spreading canopy. Its bark is smooth, dark-cherry-colored, and fragrant. The leaves are broadly lanceolate, 6–25 cm long, light green with a bronze tint, glossy on top and paler underneath, turning bright yellow and red in autumn. Due to its decorative foliage, abundant flowering, and striking autumn coloration, late black cherry is widely used in solitary, group, and avenue plantings in parks and gardens.
The flowers are white or slightly pink, arranged in narrow cylindrical racemes up to 14 cm long, blooming from late May and lasting 2–4 weeks, later than common cherry. The flowers have a pleasant fragrance with bactericidal properties, making the plant a forest sanitary species capable of protecting the environment from harmful microorganisms. The fruits are drupes up to 1 cm in diameter, initially red, then nearly black, edible with a distinctive bitter almond flavor. They are consumed fresh or after processing.
Late black cherry is highly frost-tolerant and adaptable to various growing conditions. Its root system is well-developed and deeply penetrating, ensuring plant stability. Due to its bactericidal properties, the plant is resistant to diseases and pests. It prefers sunny locations and does not tolerate shade, which should be considered when planting. This plant will be a beautiful decorative accent in the garden, creating striking color and texture contrasts in spring and summer, and delighting the eye with vibrant autumn foliage and fruits.
