3 Native Cherry Trees In Wisconsin (Photos, Care & Identification)
Cherry trees are a great way to attract beautiful birds to your yard. Additionally, they’ll provide you with amazing cherries to snack on.
You’re in luck if you’ve been searching for native cherry trees in Wisconsin. Pin cherries, chokecherries, and black cherries are all native to the state and are all stunning.
You’ll find comprehensive information here on identification, physical characteristics, uses, native habitat, and range, all of which should help you make a more informed decision.
So, let’s begin.
1. Pin Cherry
- Common Name: Pin Cherry
- Scientific Name: Prunus pennsylvanica
- Mature Height: 20 to 30 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Small white flowers in early spring; small red fruit in summer.
- Uses: Ornamental
One of the most commonly found cherry trees in Wisconsin, the Pin Cherry, is a small to medium-sized North American shrub or tree. It grows to a height of 20 to 30 feet and has a narrow, rounded crown. The bark is thin and reddish-brown, breaking into papery layers with wide, uneven horizontal bands of orange lenticels.
The Pin Cherry tree’s leaves are alternating, rectangular in shape, and 3 to 4 inches long, with sharply incurved teeth around the edge. They are a bright green tint when completely matured.
A small red fruit that ripens in the middle or end of summer follows early spring’s small white blooms on cherries. This 1.4-inch-diameter fruit has thick crimson skin and a thin sour flesh encircling an oval seed. It grows in long-stalked clusters.
Pin Cherry can be found across the state, but it is more widespread in the northern portion around recent forest fires, cutovers, old fields, and roadsides.
Pin Cherry wood is light, soft, and brownish, with yellowish sapwood, and has no commercial use. The Pin Cherry tree, on the other hand, is hardy and provides houses and feeding grounds for songbirds.
2. Chokecherry
- Common Name: Choke Cherry
- Scientific Name: Prunus virginiana
- Mature Height: 20 to 25 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Clusters of small white flowers; reddish-black fruit
- Uses: Food for birds and wildlife; berries can be used for making jellies and syrups
Choke Cherry is a North American natural small tree or shrub. It is often found in Wisconsin and other regions of the United States near streams, in open woodlands, and brushy areas.
The tree is often not very tall, reaching a maximum height of 20 to 25 feet with a diameter of 4 to 8 inches. The crown of the tree is rounded and uneven.
On young trees, the bark of the Choke Cherry is thin, lustrous, and brownish, and it easily peels off in tiny layers. The bark thickens and darkens with age, with minor fissures. The inner bark tastes and smells like bitter cherry.
Choke Cherry leaves are widely oval, brilliant green on top and lighter underneath. They are fine-toothed and sharply pointed, measuring 3 to 4 inches long and 1 to 2 inches wide.
The tree bears clusters of little white blossoms that develop into reddish-black fruit. Each fruit has a single seed, with thick skin and thin, dark flesh. Although the fruit is bitter to the taste, it can be used to make jellies and syrups.
Although Choke Cherry wood is heavy and durable, it could be stronger and has no commercial use in Wisconsin. However, the tree’s fruit is favored among birds and wildlife. It is the most common tree in North America, ranging from the Arctic Circle to Mexico and from the Atlantic to the Rockies.
3. Black Cherry
- Common Name: Black Cherry
- Scientific Name: Prunus serotina
- Mature Height: 50 to 70 feet
- Native/Non-Native: Native
- Flowers/Cones: Clusters of small white flowers in the spring, followed by clusters of dark purple fruit in the late summer.
- Uses: The fruit is edible but somewhat bitter and can be used to make jams or baked goods. The wood is highly valued for furniture and tool handles.
Black Cherry, also known as Prunus serotina, is a beautiful and useful tree that can grow to be 50 to 70 feet tall and 8 inches to 2 feet in diameter. It has a broad to narrowly rounded crown that casts a lot of shade.
The leaves of the Black Cherry are alternating, with simple, oval, glossy leaves above and lighter ones below. The fine incurved teeth along the edges of the leaves easily identify this tree. Surprisingly, the petioles and little branches taste bitterly almond.
On young trees, the bark is smooth, bright reddish-brown, with conspicuous narrow, white horizontal lines. The bark on older trunks is thick, dark brown to nearly black, rough, and divided into thick uneven scales.
The Black Cherry fruit is a drupe that grows in long, hanging clusters and ripens in late summer. The fruit is purplish-black and contains only one seed. The fruit is edible, however, it is quite bitter. It is used to make jams and baked foods.
The Black Cherry tree is native to the United States and can be found throughout the country. It is particularly common in the southern portion of the country on the richer soils.
Black Cherry wood is highly prized for its reddish-brown hue, fine-grained texture, and sheen. The wood is reasonably heavy and sturdy, and it does not warp or split throughout the seasoning process. As a result, it is utilized for furniture, interior design, tools, and implement handles.
Native Cherry Trees In Wisconsin – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let’s have a detailed question-answer section containing the most commonly asked questions about the native cherry trees in Wisconsin.
Are there cherry trees in Wisconsin?
Cherry trees are among the most popular ornamental trees in Wisconsin. Three cherry trees are native to the state: Pin Cherry, Choke Cherry, and Black Cherry.
Where are most cherries grown in Wisconsin?
Cherry trees can be found almost anywhere in the state. However, most commercial cherries are grown in the Door County region, which is located on the state’s eastern peninsula. Door County is well-known for its ideal climate and soil conditions for cherry production. Because of the distinctive microclimate that Lake Michigan’s waters have created in the area, cherry trees can thrive there.
Due to its significant cherry industry, Door County is often referred to as the “Cherry Capital of Wisconsin.”
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Native Cherry Trees In Wisconsin – Sources
The Regional Gardening team makes sure that the information in our articles is accurate by only using sources that are known to be trustworthy. Some of these sources are peer-reviewed journals from government agencies, well-known universities, and scientific research organizations.
- Trees Of Ohio, Division Of Wildlife
- Trees Of Ohio Field Guide, Book by Stan Tekiela
- Ohio Trees, OSU Extension Publications
- Native Plant Lists, Ohio Department Of Natural Resources
- Ohio Department Of Agriculture
- Gardening, The Ohio State University
