Prunus fruticosa Pallas, Fl. Ross. 1: 19. 1784; P. chamaecerasus Jacquin.

Shrubs 0.2–1 m tall. Branchlets purplish brown; young branchlets green, glabrous. Winter buds ovoid, glabrous; scale margins glandular. Stipules narrowly linear, margin dentate. Petiole 0.8–1.5 cm, glabrous; leaf blade obovate, obovate-oblong, or lanceolate, 3–6 × 1.5–2.5 cm, abaxially light green and glabrous, adaxially dark green, shiny, and glabrous, base cuneate, margin obtusely to acutely dentate and teeth with an indurate cartilaginous margin and non-glandular, apex acute to obtuse; secondary veins 6–9 on either side of midvein. Inflorescences umbellate, (1–)3-or 4-flowered, sessile or shortly pedunculate. Flowers opening before or at same time as leaves. Pedicel 1.5–2.5 cm, glabrous. Hypanthium campanulate, outside glabrous. Sepals reflexed or erect. Petals white, obovate, 6–7 mm, apex usually notched. Stamens many. Style glabrous. Drupe red, ovoid, sour-sweet, ca. 1 × 0.8 cm; endocarp smooth. Fl. Apr–May, fr. Jul.

Forest-steppes and steppe zone, broad-leaved forest margins, shrubby thickets, steppes, grooves, open dry slopes, also cultivated. Xinjiang [Kazakhstan, Russia (Siberia); SW Asia, S Europe].