Black cherry is a beloved hardwood forest tree. It has distinct dark bark that makes identification easy. It is common to see large trees in forests that tower high above us in the canopy. But this grace is a double edge sword, as this trees height can put it’s young branches out of reach of wildcrafting medicine makers.
That’s what stuck me as such an opportunity for growing black cherry: the ability to manage a tree in ones community exclusively for medicine making from the time the tree is young. Regular renewal pruning can keep the tree tidy, with access to young branches close at hand.
According to Matthew Wood in his book “The Earthwise Herbal Volume II”, black cherry has been used historically as a “coolant in fever and irritative coughs”. I know from experience that it makes a great throat spray or syrup for sore throats.
No worry if you’re not an herbalist, the wood of black cherry is prized by woodworkers. This tree would be a great addition to any managed woodlot.
