North Carolina Native Plant Society

Blooming Plants

Max Patch, 2001

Leaves

Note how the leaves are attached directly to the stem
Tom Harville
Sep '08

Buds

Tom Harville

Plant

Tom Harville

Plants

Tm Harville

Bloom

Tom Harville

Bloom Close up

Apr 2007

Tom Harville

Bloom Close Up

Same root as above, Apr 2009

Tom Harville

Blooming Plant

© David R. McAdoo

Blooms

David McAdoo

Partially Opened Bloom

Red Lair Farm and Forest

Leaves and Buds

It is hard to imagine the size of the leaves and blooms if you have never seem them.

Red Lair Farm and Forest

Canopy

Red Lair Farm and Forest

Plant

Tom Harville

Plants

Tom Harville
Oct 08

Bloom & Buds

Tom Harville
Oct 08

In bloom

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, April 13, 2008

Jack Spruill notes the acrid smell and bitter taste of young tree bark. The bark and wilted leaves contain hydrocyanic acid, toxic to pets and livestock in large amounts (but not to deer!)

Close-up of flowers

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, April 16, 2008

Black Cherry is the largest of our native cherries, reaching its full height in the mountains. An adaptable tree, it grows in woodlands, pastures and fencerows.

In fruit

Black Cherry is a great wildlife tree with abundant berries attracting many birds. The wood is prized for furniture and the berries are made into jelly, wine and liqueurs.

Jack Spruill, Hampstead, June 28, 2009

New Shoots

Tom Harville
April

Plant

Tom Harville
April

Buds

The buds open from the bottom up over a week or two

Tom Harville
Early June

Blooms with Turkscap Lilies

Martha Baskin
Topton NC

Blooms with Turkscaps and Friend

Note the blooms opening

Martha Baskin
Topton, NC

Emerging Plants

Tom Harville

1st Day of bloom

Tom Harville

Mature Plant

Note that blooms last only a day or two

Jean Woods

Different Petals

Tom Harville

Seed Pods Forming

Tom Harville

Double bloom

Tom Harville

Blooms

Max Patch 2001

Blooms close up

Tom Harville
May

Leaves

Martha Baskin
Nantahala, NC
Aug

Berries

Martha Baskin
Nantahala, NC
May

The name comes from the blue berries.