×2Wildlife
- Feeds birds
- Pollinators
- Small mammals
The summer fruit feeds songbirds, game birds and small mammals, and the spring flowers support bees and other pollinators.
Ships bare root
Native
Mature plant shown. Yours ships dormant and bare root.
What arrives
1 dormant bare-root plant, about 2–3 ft tall
- No leaves, no pot, no soil. Roots packed moist.
- Ships in your zone's planting window.
- Leafs out about 4–8 weeks after planting.
Native tree · edible
Black Cherry
Prunus serotina
- Ships 2–3 ft tall
- 1 plant, bare root
- Zones 3–9
- Grows 50–60 ft
$11.95Was $14.95Save 20%
5.0 out of 5 · 1 reviewsThe quick answer
Black cherry is a fast-growing native shade tree for USDA zones 3-9 that reaches 50-60 ft tall and 20-30 ft wide in full sun to part shade. It is planted mainly for wildlife and valuable hardwood; its small black cherries feed birds and make jelly. Plant two seedlings, since trees need cross-pollination, and expect fruit after about 10 years.
When it ships to you
Zone scheduleHow many?
This plant needs a partner. Black cherry flowers do not set viable fruit with their own pollen, so plant at least two black cherry seedlings within about 100 ft of each other for a good crop.
Expert recommendedPollination partners we sell
-
×2Plant 2 Black CherryEach seedling is genetically different, so two or more pollinate each other.
Planting a hedge or row?
Free shipping on orders $75+$75
Healthy deliveryOr we replace it
Shipped dormantTimed to your zone
1-year warrantyStore credit, terms
Black Cherry plant profile
Mature size50–60 ft tall · 20–30 ft wide
Typical (50 ft)Up to 60 ft
Upright tree with an oval to rounded crown; grows fast when young.
USDA hardiness zones3–9
Sun & growth
SlowMediumFast
Best in full sun; tolerates part shade but grows poorly in heavy shade. Fruit in about 10+ years.
SoilpH 5.5–7.0
4 acidic6.59 alkaline
Prefers moist, well-drained soil and does not tolerate flooding or wet sites.
Native to the USEdible harvestPlant two or moreYellow to orange fall colorWindbreak
Flowers & fruit
- Fruit in 10+ yrs
- Edible
Drooping clusters of small white flowers open in late spring, followed by pea-sized cherries that ripen from red to black in late summer.
Leaves & fall color
Yellow to orange in fall. Glossy, dark green, finely toothed leaves turn yellow to orange in fall.
Pests & disease
Black knot and eastern tent caterpillars are the most common problems; prune out black knot galls in winter.
Pruning
Prune in late winter while dormant to remove dead, damaged or crossing branches and to keep one central leader.
Pollination
One Black Cherry won't give you much of a crop. Two will.
Flowers are insect-pollinated and largely self-incompatible, so plant two or more black cherry seedlings for fruit. Shipping on one plant is $9.95 and on two it's $10.95, so the second plant adds just $1 in shipping.
Bare root vs potted
Skip the garden-center markup.
Garden centers buy young plants, pot them, grow them another season and mark them up. We ship yours dormant and bare root, timed to your planting window.
Bare root, from us$11.95ships dormant
Example: 3-gal potted American hazelnut$70–$140online retail prices checked Oct 2026
A year with your Black Cherry
SPRINGDrooping clusters of small white flowers after leaf-out
SUMMERGlossy dark green leaves; fruit ripens red to black
LATE SUMMERRipe black cherries drop and draw birds
FALLYellow to orange leaves
Questions people ask about Black Cherry
Does black cherry need a second tree to produce fruit?
Yes. Self-pollinated black cherry flowers do not produce viable seed, so plant at least two seedlings near each other for fruit.
How big does a black cherry tree get?
In a typical landscape it grows 50-60 ft tall and 20-30 ft wide, so give it room away from buildings and power lines.
Are black cherry leaves poisonous to livestock?
Yes. Wilted leaves, twigs and bark release cyanide and can sicken or kill livestock, so do not plant it where horses or cattle can reach fallen branches.
Can you eat wild black cherries?
The ripe fruit flesh is edible and is commonly used for jelly and flavoring, but the pits, leaves and twigs should not be eaten.
What will my black cherry tree look like when it arrives?
It ships as a dormant bare-root seedling about 2-3 ft tall with no leaves; plant it promptly and keep the roots moist.
Plant it in 4 steps
- Soak the roots in cold water overnight before planting.
- Dig twice as wide as the roots; plant at the depth it grew.
- Water, then mulch. No fertilizer the first season.
- Plant its partner nearby.
Customer Reviews
Based on 1 review
100%
(1)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
0%
(0)
S
Perfectly packaged, healthy bare root and truly amazing customer service (got one wrong tree, they immediately sent the missing tree). Every single one of the trees I got is in perfect health and some of them even larger than expected, on top of that, the best prices I've found. I wish I had more space to be ordering more trees and I'm even tempted to start some bonsai
Plant facts checked October 2026 against: Morton Arboretum, USDA Forest Service.