Deciduous suckering shrub or tree to 10 m tall. Leaves ovate to obovate, to 10 cm long, acuminate, coarsely toothed. Flowers up to 35 mm wide, usually 3 flowers together in stalkless umbels, white to pink, flower stalks to 4 cm long, sepals becoming reflexed. Fruit round with a depression, reddish black.

The 2 cultivars offered in Australia are the 'Morello' or sour cherries used in preserves and 'Montmorency' which is a fairly sweet old French cultivar.

S Europe to N India.

Source: Spencer, R. (2002). Rosaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 3. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 2. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.