types of cherry..

[splitoak]

This kind of sparked my interest....a previous thread about cutting down a cherry tree...the type he cut down didnt look anything like the types of cherry i have cut up so far......so it just so happens i took a pic of the two types growing right beside each other...the one on rhe left has a paper type bark..the other is more of a shag bark..both very destinctive...so begs the question what are the two types? Or are they the same?

 

[Prosecond]

Tree on top is black cherry. I have heard the bottom called sweet cherry.

 

[bigbarf48]

Different species, but both cherries

 

[splitoak]

Neat to see them grown rite bside each other...any difference in BTU output?

 

[bigbarf48]

Yep, lots more variety in nature than you'd think. I doubt there's a noticeable difference in BTU output, maybe a little more from the rougher bark

 

[Woody Stover]

Black Cherry is native to the US. Sweet Cherry varieties were introduced from Europe and Asia. I think they are pretty close in BTU....medium heat output, around 21 MBTU/cord.

 

[splitoak]

This site truly is a wealth of information..

 

[Richie]

Yup, sweet cherry. The fruit is tasty. I have some in my stacks but have yet to burn it. It feels similar in weight to black cherry.

 

[Pellet_Pete]

Another I see regularly in the Northeast, and may occur in your neck of the woods, is what I call fire cherry, also known as pin cherry ((broken link removed)) which has bark kinda like sweet cherry but with a distinct copper color & shine. Will totally fill in some clearcut areas, but is very short-lived (<40-50 yrs), a true "pioneer species". Many get shaded out & die before they're even to firewood size.

 

[Applesister]

I think Pellet Pete has it. The smooth barked tree is most likely Pin Cherry or Fire cherry. And maybe some poison ivy in there too.
The cherries (fruit) usually grow in pairs like sour cherries and are bright red. About the size of a pea.
The other tree...the black cherry has very dark red clusters of berries. When they are ripe they are almost black.
These two trees pal around together. I personally would cut the Pin to let the black cherry grow. I dont ever see pin cherries listed on any btu charts. Probably around same as gray birch or poplar.
I have 3-4 of them growing with Black cherry in a hedgerow and they are dying back due to the bigger trees shading them out.

 

[Applesister]

If you are gonna cut those trees down get the vines down first. With an axe. and dip the axe in gasoline. pull the vines away from any chainsaw action. As a precaution.