Practical
Plants

Prunus serotina

Rum Cherry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Prunus genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Prunus
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
vigorous
Height
18 m
Spread
8 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The seeds and leaves of this species contain high quantities of hydrogen cyanide, a poison that gives almonds their characteristic flavour. This toxin is readily detected by its bitter taste. Usually present in too small a quantity to do any harm, any very bitter seed or fruit should not be eaten[14][29]. In small quantities, hydrogen cyanide has been shown to stimulate respiration and improve digestion, it is also claimed to be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. In excess, however, it can cause respiratory failure and even death.

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked in pies, jellies, stews etc[12][3][22][27][28][2][5][11]. It must be fully ripe or else it will have a bitter flavour. The fruit can taste sweet or bitter[24]. The better fruits have a thin skin and a juicy flesh with a pleasant vinous flavour[30]. The fruit can also be used as a flavouring[5]. The taste is best when the plant is grown in a sunny position[6]. The fruit is about 9mm in diameter and contains one large seed[13]. Seed - raw or cooked. Do not eat the seed if it is too bitter - see the notes above on toxicity. An infusion of the twigs is used as a beverage[7][21]. An extract from the bark is used commercially as a flavouring in soft drinks, sweets, syrups and baked goods[11].

Product or use
Condiment
Product or use
Drink
Plant part
Fruit
Plant part
Seed

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Rum cherry was widely employed medicinally by various native North American Indian tribes who used it to treat a variety of complaints[21]. It is little, if at all, used in modern herbalism. The bark of the root, trunk and branches is antitussive, astringent, pectoral, sedative, stomachic, tonic[23][14][31][8][19]. The medicinal properties of this plant are destroyed by boiling, so the plant should only be allowed to steep in warm water[15]. The root bark and the aromatic inner bark have expectorant and mild sedative properties and a tea made from either of them has been used to ease pain in the early stages of labour[15][16]. The tea is also used in the treatment of fevers, colds, sore throats, diarrhoea etc[16][21]. The bark is harvested in the autumn and should not be stored for longer than one year since it quickly loses its medicinal properties[23][15]. Young thin bark is preferred[15]. A decoction of the inner bark has been used in the treatment of laryngitis[21]. The root bark has been used as a wash on old sores and ulcers[21]. The bark contains the glycoside prunasin, which is converted in the digestive tract to the highly toxic hydrocyanic acid[16]. Prunasin is at its highest level in the bark in the autumn[16] so the bark is harvested at this time and can be dried for later use[20]. In small amounts this exceedingly poisonous compound stimulates respiration, improves digestion and gives a sense of well-being[19]. The fruit is astringent and has been used in the treatment of dysentery[15].

Product or use
Antitussive
Product or use
Astringent
Product or use
Pectoral
Product or use
Sedative
Product or use
Stomachic
Product or use
Tonic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A green dye can be obtained from the leaves[9]. A dark grey to green dye can be obtained from the fruit[9]. Wood - close and straight-grained, light, strong, rather hard, highly shock resistant[25][30][5][10][18]. It bends well, works well, finishes smoothly, glues well, seasons well, shrinks moderately and is moderately free from checking and warping[17]. It weighs about 36lb per cubic foot and takes a beautiful polish[17]. It is widely used for furniture, cabinet making, the interior finish of buildings etc[25][30][5][10][18].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Ecosystem niche
Canopy

Environment

Range
N. America - Nova Scotia to Minnesota, south to Florida and Texas. Also in Arizona and Mexico.
Habitat
Found in a variety of soils, preferring moist fertile conditions on north or east facing slopes or protected coves[18]. Dry woods[24].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 3+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - requires 2 - 3 months cold stratification and is best sown in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe[13]. Sow stored seed in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[13]. Protect the seed from mice etc. The seed can be rather slow, sometimes taking 18 months to germinate[4]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle. Grow them on in a greenhouse or cold frame for their first winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood with a heel, July/August in a frame[3][13]. Softwood cuttings from strongly growing plants in spring to early summer in a frame[13]. Layering in spring.

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Requires a well-drained moisture retentive soil[1][3]. Requires a warm sunny position[3][6]. Thrives in a loamy soil, doing well on limestone[3]. Prefers some chalk in the soil but apt to become chlorotic if too much is present[1]. A fast-growing and moderately long-lived tree in the wild, producing a heavy fruit crop about once every 4 years[18]. It is cultivated for its timber in C. Europe[26]. This species produces an abundance of flowers and usually fruits well in Britain[3]. In the wild the tree begins to fruit when about 10 years old and then continues for about 100 years, fruiting well in most years[5]. Most members of this genus are shallow-rooted and will produce suckers if the roots are damaged[19]. Plants in this genus are notably susceptible to honey fungus[13].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Turner. N. J. and Szczawinski. A. Edible Wild Fruits and Nuts of Canada. National Museum of Natural Sciences 1978-00-00

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  3. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  4. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩

  5. Vines. R. A. Trees of Central Texas. University of Texas Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0-292-78958-3

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  6. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2

  7. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  8. Mills. S. Y. The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism.

    ↩

  9. Grae. I. Nature's Colors - Dyes from Plants. MacMillan Publishing Co. New York. 1974-00-00 ISBN 0-02-544950-8

    ↩1↩2

  10. Hill. A. F. Economic Botany. The Maple Press 1952-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  11. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  12. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

    ↩

  13. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  14. Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-553-23827-2

    ↩1↩2

  15. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  16. Foster. S. & Duke. J. A. A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants. Eastern and Central N. America. Houghton Mifflin Co. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0395467225

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  17. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2

  18. Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980-00-00 ISBN 0442238622

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  19. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩1↩2↩3

  20. Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London 1996-00-00 ISBN 9-780751-303148

    ↩

  21. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  22. Harrison. S. Wallis. M. Masefield. G. The Oxford Book of Food Plants. Oxford University Press 1975-00-00

    ↩

  23. Grieve. A Modern Herbal. Penguin 1984-00-00 ISBN 0-14-046-440-9

    ↩1↩2

  24. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  25. Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  26. ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964-00-00

    ↩

  27. Harris. B. C. Eat the Weeds. Pivot Health 1973-00-00

    ↩

  28. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩

  29. Frohne. D. and Pf�nder. J. A Colour Atlas of Poisonous Plants. Wolfe 1984-00-00 ISBN 0723408394

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  30. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3

  31. Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications 1976-00-00 ISBN 0-486-23310-3

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