http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-cherry-trees.htm
Cherry trees come in quite an array of colors and sizes. Many gardeners divide cherries into
flowering or ornamental varieties, and varieties which produce edible fruit. Both have been cultivated
for thousands of years, resulting in a number of very refined cherry cultivars, some of which are
highly treasured. Regions like Japan are especially famous for their flowering cherries, while the
fruiting cherries of regions like Washington State are also well known in some culinary circles.
http://www.aboutcherrytrees.com/
Cherry tree wood is a beautiful red and fine grained. Strong enough for tool
handles, cabinetmakers once valued the cherry tree wood. The leaves of a cherry
tree are droopy, and the flowers are arranged in umbels, meaning that each is on
the end of a long stalk. In the autumn months, the leaves of a cherry tree will turn
beautiful colors, ranging from pink, orange and crimson to brown.
http://tinytimbers.com/specie_cherry.htm
Distribution
Throughout Midwestern and Eastern U.S. Average tree height is 60 to 80 feet. Cherry trees can live to the
extreme ages of 150 to 200 years.
Main Uses
Fine furniture and cabinet making, mouldings and millwork, kitchen cabinets, paneling, flooring, doors, boat
interiors, musical instruments, turnings and carvings.
Cherry is easy to machine, nails and glues well and when sanded and stained, it produces an excellent
smooth finish. It dries fairly quickly with moderately high shrinkage, but is dimensionally stable after kilndrying.
http://wunderwoods.wordpress.com/2012/0
4/24/how-big-do-american-black-cherrytrees-get/
How Big Do (American Black) Cherry
Trees Get?
I was meeting with a customer last week and we were going over the details of the job and
discussing the wood that I was going to use for their bookshelves – cherry, as you might have
guessed. I was going on about how much I like cherry and was making sure to plug the fact that I
mill my own trees. During our discussion, which was mostly me talking and him nodding, he
asked,”Well, how big do cherry trees get?” I knew then that he was wondering what I was wondering
when I started cutting trees. How do you get big boards from such little orchard trees? I explained to
him that it wasn’t the type of cherry tree he was picturing. It was an American Black Cherry, which
grows in the forest, mixed with other hardwoods. His next question was, “But, it doesn’t have
cherries does it?” As a matter of fact it does. They aren’t big and they are in a cluster that looks like
grapes, but they are fruit that birds love to eat, and they are definitely cherries. Then I thought and
quickly asked, “Are you ready to be shocked? I bet that you have one right here in your yard and
don’t even know it.” I wasn’t going too far out on a limb because I had just driven down a long gravel
drive with upland hardwoods to get to his house. I hadn’t specifically spotted a cherry tree, but I
could smell them (not literally).
As we talked more, our discussion went back and forth from the piece of furniture that I am going to
make to the wood that I am going to use, and we talked more about how big the cherry trees get. I
explained that they get big like any hardwood lumber tree, but are on the smaller end of the scale
overall. An average log size in this area is about 14″-15″ in diameter, inside the bark, on the skinny
end. However, it isn’t uncommon for them to be larger. The main problem with larger and older logs
is that they tend to have punky/rotten areas in the center of the log, so many bigger logs don’t get
milled. For fun (as always) and to prove that they get bigger than orchard trees, I thought I would
share a few photos of my larger finds. Notice that we are not phased at all by the size of the larger
logs. It’s routine for us.
By the way, as I left his property, I saw a couple of small cherry trees and I am sure that there are
more.
The biggest American Black Cherry log that I found from last year’s tornado.
This is one of the nicest big cherries that I have cut. I liked it.
A young Martin Goebel from 2003. This was the first log that I milled for Martin. He likes cherry too.
This cherry log came from the area around the tornado last year in St. Louis.
This is the widest solid slab of cherry that I have seen (about 32″). It isn’t rotten in the middle, which is
uncommon for a cherry this big.
http://www.leeswoodprojects.com/species/cherry.html
Native Regions
There approximately 25 species of cherry in the United States, but very few are used for commercial purposes. Black
Cherry trees grow predominately in the Eastern United States. More specifically, they are found from the Dakotas
south to Eastern Texas and east to the Atlantic Coast. They grow in abundance in the Appalachian Mountains,
typically in deep, well drained, acidic soils between 1000 to 4000 ft. elevations. They thrive in cool, moist climates
during the growing season.
Characteristics
There are many species of cherry wood in the United States, but the black cherry is probably the most prominent
wood used for commercial purposes. It is a moderately heavy wood, with an average weight of 35 lbs/cu. ft. Cherry
heartwood is a reddish-brown color, with somewhat darker reddish-brown grain patterns throughout. It is a stiff,
strong wood that has a high resistance to shock and denting. Also, it has a fine uniform texture, and typically, a
straight grain pattern. But occasionally it can show some interlocking, which adds to its interest and beauty. Cherry is
moderately durable, but indoor use is recommended.
Properties
Black cherry is exceptionally easy to work with machine equipment as well as with hand tools. Metal fasteners hold
well and pre-drilling is not usually required, because cherry wood does not have a tendency to split. Cherry ranks
high for steam bending strength. Also, it turns very well and is considered one of the better woods for carving. Cherry
wood will accept most all types of glue. If the project will be exposed to high humidity, oil based or plastic glues work
best. Because of its fine grain pattern, glues do not penetrate into the wood as well as open grained woods. As a
result, water based glues may lose some of its strength due to the humidity. Cherry sands well, and if the proper grit
sequence is used, a smooth, scratch-free surface can be achieved prior to the finish. Wood filler is not usually
necessary because of the fine texture of the wood. Cherry will accept all types of stains, but clear finishes such as
lacquer, varnish, or some of the plastic finishes, placed directly on the raw wood will enhance the natural beauty of
the grain patterns. If an oil finish, like Tung or Danish oil is desired, apply it first and then after it is dry, apply a
furniture wax coat to help protect the finish and give it a greater luster.
Main Uses
Cherry has beautiful grain patterns, which lends itself to fine furniture, cabinets, paneling, veneers, jewelry boxes,
burial caskets, and grandfather clocks. Other uses include moldings, turnings, carvings, woodenware and novelties.
In addition, is considered a tonal wood, and is prized for making speaker cabinets, and musical instruments, such
guitars and drums.