How Do You Identify Black Cherry Trees?
The black cherry tree, native the midwest and eastern regions of the United States, is often found in open fields and in areas where the forests have been previously harvested. The tree is very aggressive in its youth and reproduces often. In its youth it also has a symmetrical shape but it becomes irregular as the tree grows with upright branches and storm damage affects the tree. Approaching sixty feet in height and a width of thirty feet when found in open spaces, the black cherry is related to orchard trees as well as strawberries, roses and blackberries. Examine the bark of the tree. The bark when the branch is very young is smooth and dark reddish brown. The branch also tends to be long and shiny and dotted with lenticels, or small white spots on the bark. As the tree begins to age the bark gets harder and thicker. The smooth bark becomes scaly and then flaky and takes a dark almost black coloration. Identify the leaves. The leaves of the black cherry tree are broad and flat. The
