Rum Cherry

Did you know

• Its common name comes from the use of its fruit to flavor rum and brandy in colonial America.
• The bark contains cyanogenic glycosides that release cyanide when damaged, making it toxic to livestock.
• Its wood is the most commercially valuable native cherry, prized by furniture makers for its rich reddish-brown color.
• Over 70 species of birds eat its small black cherries, making it one of the most important wildlife food trees.
• In Europe, it is considered an aggressive invasive species, particularly in the Netherlands and Germany where it dominates forests.

Color meanings

Uses

• timber production
• wildlife food source
• traditional cough medicine
• flavoring for beverages