Late bird cherry

Family Rosaceae (Rosaceae). Native to the eastern part of North America.

This tree grows on rich, moist soils in broad-leaved forests with oak and ash. Its extensive range stretches from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, occupying the entire eastern United States. It received its name because of its late flowering. It really blooms only at the very end of May or even in June, and the fruits do not ripen until at least the end of August — the beginning of September. Another of its names — "black cherry" is related to the dark color of the bark, and the name "rum cherry" characterizes the taste of its fruits.

Tree up to 20 m tall (in cultivation often shrub-like in form), with a wide, spreading crown, smooth dark-cherry bark, broad-lanceolate leaves up to 12 cm long, glabrous, dark green, shiny above and considerably lighter below. In autumn the leaves turn various shades of yellow and red. Flowers white, odorless, up to 1 cm in diameter, in cylindrical racemes with leaves at the base, up to 14 cm long. Flowers 2–3 weeks later than the common bird cherry, for which it received its specific epithet. Fruits black, somewhat bitter. Begins flowering at 5 years of age.

Grows rapidly, tolerates pruning well, fairly frost-hardy, though less so than other species of the genus. Undemanding regarding soil, but achieves good development only on fresh, rich soils. More drought-resistant than other bird cherry species. Ornamental for its foliage and abundant flowering; in autumn — for its fruits and leaf coloration.