Taxon: Prunus serotina Ehrh.

Summary

Genus:

Prunus

Subgenus:

Cerasus

Section:

Laurocerasus

Family:

Rosaceae

Subfamily:

Amygdaloideae

Tribe:

Amygdaleae

Nomen number:

30099

Place of publication:

Gartenkalender 3:285. 1784, nom. cons. (Beitr. Naturk. 3:20. 1788)

Comment:

conserved (nom. cons.) with a conserved type (Shenzhen ICN Art. 14.9 & App. IV)

Verified:

05/16/2011 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

26 (8 active, 7 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. alabamensis (C. Mohr) Little (0 active accession[s])
Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. salicifolia (Kunth) Koehne (0 active accession[s])
Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. serotina (1 active accession[s])
Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. virens (Wooton & Standl.) McVaugh (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Barrie, F. R. 2011. Report of the General Committee: 11. Taxon 60:1213. Note: proposal recommended
Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
Boutelje, J. B. 1980. Encyclopedia of world timbers, names and technical literature
Brummitt, R. K. 2011. Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants: 62. Taxon 60:231. Note: proposal recommended
Clark, R. C. 1971. The woody plants of Alabama. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 58:179.
Cooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: poisonous
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 140.
Downey, S. L. & A. F. Iezzoni. 2000. Polymorphic DNA markers in black cherry (Prunus serotina) are identified using sequences from sweet cherry, peach, and sour cherry. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 125:76-80.
Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
Gandhi, K. N. et al. 2009. (1886-1887) Proposals to conserve the names Prunus serotina and P. virginiana (Rosaceae) with conserved types. Taxon 58:312-314.
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
IPGRI. New World Fruits Database (on-line resource).
Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Lira, R. et al., eds. 2016. Ethnobotany of Mexico Springer, New York, US. 95.
Little, E. L., Jr. 1978. Important forest trees of the United States
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Munro, D. B. Canadian poisonous plants information system (on-line resource).
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Petitpierre, B. et al. 2009. Plastid DNA variation in Prunus serotina var. serotina (Rosaceae), a North American tree invading Europe. Eur. J. Forest Res. 128:431-436.
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Prunus Crop Germplasm Committee. 2010. Prunus vulnerability statement - 2010. 15.
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea. Note: cultivated
Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
2018. Oklahoma vascular plant database

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	black cherry		1	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
English	rum cherry		1	Botanical Society of the British Isles. BSBI taxon database (on-line resource).
English	wild cherry		1	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
English (Canada)	black cherry	Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 140.
French (Canada)	cerisier tardif	Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 140.
French (Canada)	merisier		2	Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
Italian	pruno tardivo		2	International Seed Testing Association. 1971. A Multilingual Glossary of Common Plant-Names 2. Trees.
Spanish (Mexico)	capulín		2	Lira, R. et al., eds. 2016. Ethnobotany of Mexico Springer, New York, US. 95.
Swedish	glanshägg		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick	s.e.	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine	e. & s.	Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	West Virginia		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Coahuila de Zaragoza
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Alabama		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Arkansas		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Delaware		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Georgia		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Mississippi		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina		Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	South Carolina		Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia		Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala			Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
2	Cultivated	Europe		Europe
2	Cultivated	Southern America		South America		tropical
4	Naturalized	Europe		Europe
4	Naturalized	Southern America		South America		tropical

Native
Northern America

EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec, New Brunswick (s.e.)]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Indiana, Maine (e. & s.), Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont, West Virginia]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas]
NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chihuahua, Coahuila de Zaragoza, Durango, Sonora]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave]

Southern America

CENTRAL AMERICA: Guatemala

Cultivated
Europe

REGION: Europe

Southern America

REGION: South America (tropical)

Naturalized
Europe

REGION: Europe

Southern America

REGION: South America (tropical)

Reference(s)

Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:363. Note: this treatment recognizes three varieties (alabamensis, serotina, and rufula)
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Reference
Environmental	ornamental	Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Human food	fruit	Lira, R. et al., eds. 2016. Ethnobotany of Mexico Springer, New York, US. 95.
Materials	wood	Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Medicines	folklore	Leung, A. Y. & S. Foster. 1996. Encyclopedia of common natural ingredients used in food, drugs, and cosmetics, ed. 2
Medicines	folklore	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicines	folklore	McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisons	mammals	Cooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: poisonous
Weed		Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=30099. Accessed 19 April 2026.