Cherry plum
Prunus cerasifera
Synonyms: Prunus orientalis, Prunus myrobalana f. divaricata, Prunus cerasifera var. atropurpurea, Prunus cerasifera var. orientalis, Prunus cerasifera subsp. georgica, Prunus cerasifera subsp. caspica, Prunus caspica, Prunus cerasifera var. elegans, Prunus divaricata f. purpusii, Prunus cerasifera subsp. nairica, Prunus orientalis var. pamiralaica, Prunus sogdiana var. eximia, Prunus divaricata f. woodii, Prunus divaricata subsp. pontica, Prunus cerasifera var. myrobalana, Prunus cerasifera f. woodii, Prunus cerasifera subvar. pissardii, Prunus cerasifera f. subglobosa-putaminata, Prunus domestica subsp. cerasifera, Prunus cerasifera var. ovaliputaminata, Prunus pissardii, Prunus cerasifera subsp. divaricata, Prunus cerasifera var. moseri, Prunus cerasifera var. crisica, Prunus cerasifera var. luteocordata, Prunus myrobalana var. serotina, Prunus divaricata f. elegans, Prunus myrobalana var. pissardii, Prunus pissardii var. moseri, Prunus cerasifera var. stenodrunacea, Prunus divaricata subsp. nairica, Prunus cerasifera var. szarvasiensis, Prunus alpestris, Prunus cerasifera var. pissardii, Prunus cerasifera var. turcomanica, Prunus cerasifera var. taurica, Prunus sogdiana var. depruinosa, Prunus cerasifera angustifolia, Prunus sogdiana var. punicea, Prunus cerasifera var. nigroglobata, Prunus orientalis var. excelsior, Prunus communis subsp. divaricata, Armeniaca sogdiana, Prunus cerasifera subsp. pontica, Prunus cerasifera subsp. turcomanica, Prunus cerasifera f. ovalidrupacea, Prunus cerasifera woodii, Prunus cerasifera var. iranica, Prunus cerasifera var. csongradensis, Prunus cerasifera f. purpusii, Prunus sogdiana var. atrata, Prunus cerasifera f. subglobosa-drupacea, Prunus cerasifera var. divaricata, Prunus myrobalana, Prunus domestica var. myrobalana, Prunus myrobalana f. purpurea, Prunus myrobalana var. gigantea, Prunus divaricata f. atropurpurea, Prunus pissardii purpusii, Prunus cerasifera f. spaethiana, Prunus divaricata f. nigra, Prunus cerasifera f. pendula, Prunus cerasifera var. acutifolia, Prunus sogdiana, Prunus sogdiana subsp. conoidea, Prunus orientalis var. flava, Prunus sogdiana subsp. prunoidea, Prunus cerasifera var. eucerasifera, Prunus cerasifera f. nigra, Prunus orientalis var. uzbekistanica, Prunus myrobalana var. arbutifolia, Prunus cerasifera elegans, Prunus divaricata subsp. turcomanica, Prunus mirobalanus, Prunus monticola var. pubescens, Prunus domestica var. myrobolana, Prunus cerasifera purpurea, Prunus cerasifera f. atropurpurea, Prunus cerasifera f. stipitata, Prunus cerasifera subsp. macrocarpa, Prunus cerasifera subsp. borealicaucasica, Prunus myrobalana roseaplena, Prunus divaricata subsp. borealicaucasica, Prunus cerasifera subsp. orientalis, Prunus myrobalana var. ligustrifolia, Prunus divaricata f. pendula, Prunus cerasifera subsp. pissardii, Prunus sogdiana var. citrina, Prunus caspica subsp. foveata, Prunus orientalis var. popovii, Prunus myrobalana f. cerasifera, Prunus cerasifera f. elegans, Prunus domestica var. cerasifera, Prunus cerasifera subsp. myrobalana, Prunus cerasifera subsp. iranica, Prunus divaricata var. pontica, Prunus myrobolana var. pissardii, Prunus cerasifera var. pumila, Prunus cerasifera subsp. sogdiana, Prunus cerasifera f. plano-subglobosa-drupacea, Prunus monticola, Prunus cerasifera moseri, Prunus cerasifera var. bonamenta, Prunus cerasifera var. luteoglobata, Prunus myrobalana rubraplena, Prunus sogdiana subsp. arkytensis, Prunus cerasifera gracilis, Prunus myrobalana f. pissardii, Prunus divaricata subsp. caspica, Prunus sogdiana var. mirabilis, Prunus pissardii florepleno, Prunus cerasifera var. georgica, Prunus cerasifera var. pendula, Prunus divaricata, Prunus cerasifera subsp. taurica, Prunus divaricata var. nairica, Prunus cerasifera var. nairica, Prunus mirabilis, Prunus cerasifera subsp. myrobolana
Western Herbalism Properties
Gallery
Botanical Description
Prunus cerasifera (cherry plum, myrobalan plum) is a small deciduous tree or large shrub of the rose family (Rosaceae), typically reaching 8–12 m tall with a rounded, often densely twiggy crown and sometimes spiny branches in wild forms. The dark grey-brown bark is smooth in youth and becomes finely fissured with age. Leaves are alternate, ovate to elliptical, 3–7 cm long with finely toothed margins, glabrous and bright green above. It is one of the very first European trees to flower in spring, often opening its blossoms in mid- to late February well before the leaves expand; the showy five-petalled white or pale pink flowers are about 2 cm across with numerous stamens and are borne singly or in pairs along the previous year's twigs. The fruit is a globose edible drupe 2–3 cm in diameter ripening to yellow, red, or dark purple from early July to mid-September, with sweet juicy flesh and a single hard stone. Native to southeastern Europe and western Asia, it is widely cultivated and naturalised in the British Isles, North America, and parts of southeastern Australia.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
None Documented
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.