Black Cherry

Beginning of flowering

Prunus serotina

Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous tree · native

Last updated

Black cherry has 64 documented diseases and 41 pests, making it one of the most heavily burdened trees in our system. It grows fast (50-60 feet at maturity), seeds prolifically, and has weed potential. In the Puget Sound lowlands, Verticillium wilt in compacted soils and brown rot in wet springs are the diseases that actually cause problems. The foliage and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides that are toxic to livestock. The fruit is edible for humans and excellent for birds. For residential landscapes, the mature size, disease load, and toxicity concerns make black cherry a poor choice. It has value in naturalized areas and larger properties where the wildlife food value outweighs the maintenance burden.

— Chris Welch, ISA Certified Arborist

Plant Profile

Size & Form

Height
50-60 ft
Spread
26 ft
Growth Rate
Fast

Site Requirements

Light
Full Sun
Soil Drainage
Moist
Soil pH
4.5-8.5
Water
Moderate
Drought Tolerance
Moderate
Hardiness
Zones 3a–8b

Ornamental Interest

Bloom Time
April to May
Fall Color
Red
Origin
from Ontario east to North Dakota and south to Texas and
Watch for this season
Coryneum blight (Shothole)High

Primary Infection - Flowers and Young Leaves

Cytospora CankerHigh

Peak Spore Production and Dispersal

Powdery MildewHigh

Active Conidial Spread

RustHigh

Uredinial Stage (Summer)

+ 17 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Diseases: Regionally Documented (51)

Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole) Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Mottle leaf Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (bacterial canker complex) Dead Bud Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay An uncharacterized Black Canker Cherry twisted leaf-associated virus Cherry Twisted Leaf Believed to Crinkle Leaf and Deep Suture Eola rasp Eola Rasp Leaf (Yellow Bud Mosaic) Although bacterial Fungal Cankers June Drop Grapevine leafroll virus Leafroll Uncharacterized graft Necrotic Rusty Mottle (Lambert Mottle) and Rusty Mottle Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Multiple fungal agents Pitting Many fungi Postharvest Rots Prune dwarf Prune Dwarf Cherry rasp Rasp Leaf Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Fusari... Replant Disease This problem Rosette [VERIFY] (multiple possible causes) Rugose Several causes Stem Pitting Cherry leafroll virus (CLRV); complex with prune dwarf vi... Virus-induced Cherry Decline Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni X-Disease Taphrina deformans Leaf Curl Russeting Chrysomyxa piperiana Rusty Spot Split Pit Sprinkler Rot (Phytophthora Fruit Rot) Taphrina pruni Plum Pockets Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Xiphinema americanum and related species Nematode, Dagger Mesocriconema spp Nematode, Ring Pratylenchus penetrans (primary) and P Nematode, Root-lesion Various plant-parasitic nematode genera Nematodes

Pests: Regionally Documented (31)

Phenological Calendar

As of June 4, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2458.5 to 2700.8 GDD₃₂. Black Cherry has passed beginning of flowering (1656 GDD₃₂).

Regional Season Tracker

GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 4, 2026
Station GDD₃₂ Current Stage Next To Go
Issaquah / East King 2,701 Beginning of flowering — —
Kent / Auburn 2,695 Beginning of flowering — —
Seattle / UW 2,637 Beginning of flowering — —
Olympia / Tumwater 2,598 Beginning of flowering — —
Tacoma / Puyallup 2,564 Beginning of flowering — —
Bellingham / Whatcom 2,560 Beginning of flowering — —
Sequim / Rain Shadow 2,459 Beginning of flowering — —
View full calendar (1 stages)
Stage GDD32 Typical Window
● Beginning of flowering BBCH 61 NOW 1656 —
Regional estimate
Range: 917–1105 GDD₃₂ (6yr)

Source: OSU phenology catalog (OSU: weather.cfaes.osu.edu) About GDD₃₂ →

Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 4, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 20, 2026, then climate normals.

Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.