The flowers are sweet, astringent and have that somewhat overripe smell that Hawthorn flowers also have.

The inner bark tastes sweet, slightly bitter and strongly aromatic. The scent is, as expected, very much like a very strong tasting cherry or almond extract.

The tincture of the flower, leaves and bark together smells similar to that of Peach, and stronger than that made just with Cherry bark. It’s quite the mood enhancer and carries over well to the tincture. It borders on euphoric but is not noticeably sedating. Similar to the bark of course, but I think it’s a bit stronger in the flowers. Nervine Effectsįlowers and leaves are very relaxing and calming. Do be sure to never ingest wilted, rotten leaves (of the Cherry or any other Rose family plant for that matter, like Raspberry or Rose or Hawthorn). It probably would be unwise to eat a pile a leaves for breakfast, but you know, considering the taste, I don’t think you’d manage it anyhow. I’ve used fresh (and dried) bark tincture from spring, summer, fall and winter and I’ve been eating the leaves and flowers for quite a while now and I’m not dead yet, nor have I noticed any adverse effects whatsoever. And more specifically, that you should only use the dried bark that has been collected in fall.

I too have read all those herb books that say to never ever ingest the cherry leaf any which way or you’ll die. Now yes, I can hear the protests already. virens) and Western Chokecherry (that would be Prunus virginiana L. I work with Western Black Cherry ( Prunus serotina var. Common Name: Cherry, Black Cherry, Chokecherryīotanical Name: Prunus virginiana, Prunus serotina, allied aromatic Prunus species

Wow heart of the wild herb