Prunus cerasus Linnaeus var. avium Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 1: 474. 1753; Cerasus nigra Miller; P. avium (Linnaeus) Linnaeus.

Trees to 25 m tall, producing no root suckers. Bark blackish, splitting transversely. Branchlets grayish brown; young branchlets green, glabrous. Winter buds ovoid-ellipsoid, glabrous. Stipules linear, ca. 1 cm, margin glandular serrate. Petiole 2–7 cm, glabrous, apically with 2 nectaries; leaf blade obovate-elliptic to elliptic-ovate, 3–13 × 2–6 cm, abaxially pale green and sparsely villous, adaxially green and glabrous, base cuneate to rounded, margin obtusely incised biserrate and teeth with a cartilaginous apical mucro, apex cuspidate to shortly acuminate; secondary veins 7–12 on either side of midvein. Inflorescences umbellate, 3-or 4-flowered; inner involucral bracts recurved at flowering; peduncle inconspicuous. Flowers opening at same time as leaves. Pedicel 2–6 cm, glabrous. Hypanthium cyathiform, ca. 5 × 4 mm, outside glabrous. Sepals long elliptic, ± as long as hypanthium, recurved after anthesis, margin entire, apex obtuse. Petals white, obovate, apex emarginate. Stamens ca. 34. Style nearly as long as stamens, glabrous. Drupe red to purplish black, subglobose to ovoid, 1.5–2.5 cm in diam.; endocarp smooth. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jun–Jul. 2n = 16, 24, 32.

This species is cultivated for its fruit and as an ornamental.

Cultivated mainly in Hebei, Liaoning, and Shandong [native to SW Asia and Europe].