Black Cherry vs Gray Dogwood - TreeTime.ca

Black Cherry vs Gray Dogwood

Prunus serotina

Cornus racemosa

SOLD OUT

ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTRACT GROW

Black Cherry
Gray Dogwood

Black Cherry is common in eastern North America but a rare find elsewhere. This tree is shade tolerant and is often found in old fields, forest openings, and along fencerows.

The fruit is edible and is commonly used to flavor rum and brandy. It is also edible and often eaten fresh or used in wine or jelly. Black Cherry trees typically begin producing fruit when they are 10 years of age.

Black Cherry wood is a rich reddish-brown color and is strong, making it valued in cabinetry and woodworking. It is often used in reclamation as well.

The leaves can poison livestock as they contain cyanide derivatives and precursors. However, many have noted that deer still seem to browse their trees with impunity and birds and other animals eat the fruit when available.

Gray dogwood is a thicket-forming, deciduous shrub with greenish-white blossoms in open, terminal clusters. Young twigs are red and the fruit pedicels remain conspicuously red into late fall and early winter.

Fruit itself is a white, 1/4 in. drupe that usually does not remain on the shrub for long.

Great for naturalizing wild areas, this shrub attracts birds and other wildlife.

Note: This species is currently unavailable. Grow your own using Gray Dogwood seeds at SeedTime.ca.

Black Cherry Quick Facts

Gray Dogwood Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 4a
Height: 24 m (80 ft)
Height: 3 m (10 ft)
Spread: 14 m (45 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: any
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: yellow to orange
Fall colour: deep, reddish puple
Flowers: white
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: slow
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium



Toxicity: bark and wilted leaves toxic to livestock

Other Names: mountain black cherry, wild cherry, wild rum cherry