Sweet Cherry - Prunus avium Rose Family (Rosaceae)
This is a larval host plant to Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus). You may see three flights from February November in the deep south and two flights from May-September in the north.1
Leaves are toothed on the margin with 2 small red or green glands at the base of the blade.1
Prunus avium is generally grown as an ornamental cherry tree. It is native to Europe and Asia and has been cultivated in the U.S. since colonial times.2
Birds and squirrels love the fruit, and are undoubtedly in part responsible for the naturalization of this tree from gardens into the wild in eastern and midwestern North America.2
References:
- Prunus avium. North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/prunus-avium/. No Publication Date. Accessed January 24, 2024.
- Prunus avium. Missouri Botanical Garden. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=l860. No Publication Date. Accessed January 24, 2024.
- https://www.treesandshrubsonline.org/site/assets/files/6864/prunusavium-1.jpg
- https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9s4CNzbrY1c/Ut5OmmQT7oI/AAAAAAAABY4/_IWCYkztnsM/s1600/Prunus+avium+-+Wild+Cherry+-+Gean+01.jpg
- https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.25cbfa5a86a8e8cc5e942995befab7cc?rik=lG%2fy2Lh1WaJM1g&pid=ImgRaw&r=0
- https://th.bing.com/th/id/R.fc5f52ed253621b7aec9e7ba2b919fd7?rik=%2fS%2fr%2bcvp6EagMg&riu=http%3a%2f%2fmidvalleytrees.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2018%2f04%2fPrunusavium-2.jpg&ehk=gG2DwkKH1ZblVyztDlNFgEGVk4j8JLpGDoWo2rNe0bw%3d&risl=1&pid=ImgRaw&r=0