Black Cherry vs Flowering Raspberry - TreeTime.ca

Black Cherry vs Flowering Raspberry

Prunus serotina

Rubus odoratus

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Black Cherry
Flowering Raspberry

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.

The Flowering Raspberry is an ornamental shrubby plant that blooms with fragrant light purple flowers throughout the summer and has a large, decorative foliage of bright green leaves. The flowers resemble that of a wildrose, and the foliage turns a bright yellow in the fall. This cultivar produces small red raspberries, similar to that of a thimbleberry, but the fruit is mostly tasteless.

The Flowering Raspberry, also known as Virginia Raspberry or Purple-Flowered Raspberry, makes a great hedge plant and is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard.

Black Cherry Quick Facts

Flowering Raspberry Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 24 m (80 ft)
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 14 m (45 ft)
Spread: 4 m (12 ft)
Light: partial shade, full sun
Light: any
Moisture: normal, wet
Moisture: normal
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: medium
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: high

Toxicity: bark and wilted leaves toxic to livestock

Foliage: long, glossy leaves
Fall colour: yellow to orange
Bark: thornless orange
Flowers: white
Flowers: purple
Fruit: dark red
Berries: red to purple, seedy
Firmness: firm
Flavor: tasteless
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Native to: ON, QC, NS, NB
Native to: ON, QC, NS
Other Names: mountain black cherry, wild cherry, wild rum cherry
Other Names: purple-flowered raspberry, virginia raspberry