Hello,

I am looking for a supplier of Black Cherry--I think! There is a plant which
grows in northern IL that I believe is Prunus serotina, Black Cherry. It is
listed as a tree, but what I seem to encounter at the forest preserves and
parks is more bush-like. It grows about 15' tall and the root system must
sprout multiple stems so that it appears bush-like. The leaves are about 4
inches long and dark green and glossy on top. The underside of the leaf is
lighter green. They seem to be extremely resistant to fungus and other forms
of predation. I have never seen the cherries on them, and clippings do not
take root. If anyone thinks it is another type of plant (Prunus sp. I am
sure) I'd like to know what you think it is, and where I might try to get
some. None of the typical plant supplier or greenhouses have it around me.
Thanks so much!

In article ,
LEPS-L wrote:

I am looking for a supplier of Black Cherry--I think! There is a plant which
grows in northern IL that I believe is Prunus serotina, Black Cherry. It is
listed as a tree, but what I seem to encounter at the forest preserves and
parks is more bush-like. It grows about 15' tall and the root system must
sprout multiple stems so that it appears bush-like. The leaves are about 4
inches long and dark green and glossy on top. The underside of the leaf is
lighter green. They seem to be extremely resistant to fungus and other forms
of predation. I have never seen the cherries on them, and clippings do not
take root. If anyone thinks it is another type of plant (Prunus sp. I am
sure) I'd like to know what you think it is, and where I might try to get
some. None of the typical plant supplier or greenhouses have it around me.
Thanks so much!

There are many wild Prunus spp in eastern North America. Even up here,
at the limit of their range, there are at least six of them. To make it
more complicated, the same species may have more than one growth form.
In eastern Ontario, for example, P.serotina occurs as rare trees of good
size (20-30cm diameter trunks) and large patches of scrubby brush less
than a meter high and heavily infected with black knot disease.

Probably the easiest way to distinguish these Prunus spp is by their
blossoms, different species having very different forms. They all bloom
early, well before they leaf out. The 'plum' spp, like P. americana,
bloom the earliest, even before the grass greens up.

It's also possible that the plants you are seeing aren't native.
A number of European and Asian spp have been introduced and gone wild,
seeds being spread by birds, notably the Nanking cherry. There are also
some selections and hybrids of NA spp that are propagated as ornamentals,
notably the Shubert chokecherry.

I suggest you find a reference on spp found in your area, and start
checking the plants early in the spring to catch them in bloom.
Your state government may have a booklet or website with the information.

Thanks for the information! Indeed I have bought numerous books, but not
being a plant specialist, it has proven to be more difficult than I
imagined. Oddly, even on the taller trees, I have never seen any blooms! I
checked that early on in my search, and I am at the park area every week.
They are also never diseased. Without having a specialist in my area, I
don't know how I'll ever determine what it is.

wrote in message
. ..
In article ,
LEPS-L wrote:

I am looking for a supplier of Black Cherry--I think! There is a plant
which
grows in northern IL that I believe is Prunus serotina, Black Cherry. It
is
listed as a tree, but what I seem to encounter at the forest preserves and
parks is more bush-like. It grows about 15' tall and the root system must
sprout multiple stems so that it appears bush-like. The leaves are about 4
inches long and dark green and glossy on top. The underside of the leaf is
lighter green. They seem to be extremely resistant to fungus and other
forms
of predation. I have never seen the cherries on them, and clippings do not
take root. If anyone thinks it is another type of plant (Prunus sp. I am
sure) I'd like to know what you think it is, and where I might try to get
some. None of the typical plant supplier or greenhouses have it around me.
Thanks so much!

There are many wild Prunus spp in eastern North America. Even up here,
at the limit of their range, there are at least six of them. To make it
more complicated, the same species may have more than one growth form.
In eastern Ontario, for example, P.serotina occurs as rare trees of good
size (20-30cm diameter trunks) and large patches of scrubby brush less
than a meter high and heavily infected with black knot disease.

Probably the easiest way to distinguish these Prunus spp is by their
blossoms, different species having very different forms. They all bloom
early, well before they leaf out. The 'plum' spp, like P. americana,
bloom the earliest, even before the grass greens up.

It's also possible that the plants you are seeing aren't native.
A number of European and Asian spp have been introduced and gone wild,
seeds being spread by birds, notably the Nanking cherry. There are also
some selections and hybrids of NA spp that are propagated as ornamentals,
notably the Shubert chokecherry.

I suggest you find a reference on spp found in your area, and start
checking the plants early in the spring to catch them in bloom.
Your state government may have a booklet or website with the information.

"LEPS-L" wrote in
:

Thanks for the information! Indeed I have bought numerous books, but
not being a plant specialist, it has proven to be more difficult than
I imagined. Oddly, even on the taller trees, I have never seen any
blooms! I checked that early on in my search, and I am at the park
area every week. They are also never diseased. Without having a
specialist in my area, I don't know how I'll ever determine what it
is.

You say that it is growing in a park or forest preserve. If so, there is
some government agency that is responsible for that park or forest
preserve, contact the local office of that agency, and ask them for the
species. Once you have the name, you can ask the local native plant
society where you can get nursery stock of it.

Sean


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