How To Identify Pin Cherries In The Wild

Pin cherries grow wild in forests across the northern United States and southern Canada. These plants produce a fruit that is a little too sour for eating fresh but is perfect for making jelly. Pin cherries are also known as Bird Cherries, Fire Cherries or Prunus pennsylvanica.

Step 1

Take a look at where the plant is growing. Pin cherry trees need a lot of sun and are often found in young, successional forests that are open and sunny. They are often one of the first species to move in after a disturbance such as fire or logging. Pin cherries grow in a variety of soil types.

Step 2

Look at the structure of the tree. Pin cherry trees grow to about 30 feet tall. The trunk is narrow and straight. The tree has a flat, rounded crown.

Step 3

Examine the bark. Pin cherry bark is smooth and shiny. The bark is reddish brown with orange lenticels, or horizontal stripes.

Step 4

Look at the leaves. Pin cherry leaves are oblong or lance-shaped and are finely toothed along the edge. In the autumn, the leaves turn a bright red-orange color.

Step 5

In the spring, look for flowers. Pin cherry flowers are small, white and have five petals. They grow in clumps of five to seven flowers.

Step 6

Watch for the fruit in late summer or early fall. Pin cherries are bright red and about 1/4-inch wide. The fruit appears on long stems, in clusters all originating from the same point, like tines on an umbrella. The fruit is sour and contains a large stone inside. Many birds enjoy the fruit. During fall migration it may be hard to find a tree with very many ripe cherries left on it.