Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Zone 2 self-fertile: The black cherry is the largest and most commercially valuable of the native North American cherry trees. Black cherry holds an important place in the ecosystem as a food source for wildlife. Its abundant fruit crops feed everything from songbirds to bears. Its fruit are less bitter than the other native cherries but still better used for jams and jellies than eaten raw. It is a fast-growing pioneer species, relatively intolerant of shade and its average lifespan is about 100 years.