Black cherry

The black cherry is doing very well in our woodlands and nature reserves, much to the frustration of every manager. The species originates from North America and since its introduction in the Netherlands and Flanders, it has been so successful that it has been given the title of 'forest pest'. It is now clear that combating the black cherry requires a great deal of time and financial resources. The plant flowers from the end of May to June with white flowers in clusters. After flowering, berries form which turn black after a while. As these are very popular with birds, seedlings easily arise. In Europe, the bird cherry also grows, which is very similar to the American variety, but does belong here. In the dunes, black cherry is found mainly in sea buckthorn bushes and in dune forests, where it is very conspicuous in the autumn when the leaves turn a strong orange-red.