Common Names
Black cherry, black choke, cabinet cherry, choke cherry, mountain black cherry, rum cherry, Virginia prune bark, whicky cherry, wild black cherry, wild cherry.

Description
A valuable tree that grows to 100 feet in height and has a straight trunk covered with rough, black bark. Inner bark is aromatic. The young branches are smooth and reddish. Leaves are shiny, smooth, and finely toothed, 2 to 5 inches long. Small white flowers occur in long drooping clusters at the end of the branches, followed by clusters of round, black berries that are edible but bitter.

Flowering Period
April to May.

Habitat
Along fence rows, roadsides, streamsides, pastures, and in dry woods.

Harvest
Young, thin bark; and bark from older trees after it has been rossed; also, fruit when ripe.

Uses
The bark is used primarily as a flavoring agent. The drug is an excellent expectorant. Appalachian wild cherry bark tea is used for coughs, colds, and cholera.