Taxon:  Prunus mahaleb L.



Summary
Genus:
Prunus
Subgenus:
Cerasus
Section:
Cerasus
Family:
Rosaceae
Subfamily:
Amygdaloideae
Tribe:
Amygdaleae
Nomen number:
30034
Place of publication:
Sp. pl. 1:474.  1753
Verified:
05/02/2011 ARS Systematic Botanists.
Accessions:
105 (13  active, 12  available) in National Plant Germplasm System.  (Map it)
Other conspecific taxa
Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations
Homotypic Synonym(s)
Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill.
Padus mahaleb (L.) Borkh.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)
Stone

Conservation Status

Reference(s)
  1. University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
  2. Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
  3. Amodeo, M. R. & S. M. Zalba. 2017. Sex morphs and invasiveness of a fleshy-fruited tree in natural grasslands from Argentina. Botany 1-31. DOI: 10.1139/cjb-2017-0041.
  4. APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
  5. Bortiri, E. et al. 2001. Phylogeny and systematics of Prunus (Rosaceae) as determined by sequence analysis of ITS and the chloroplast trnL-trnF spacer DNA. Syst. Bot. 26:797-807. www.aspt.net/systematic-botany
  6. Bortiri, E. et al. 2006. Phylogenetic analysis of morphology in Prunus reveals extensive homoplasy. Pl. Syst. Evol. 259:53-71.
  7. Bouhadida, M. et al. 2007. Chloroplast DNA diversity in Prunus and its implication on genetic relationships. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 132:670-679. Note: this study examined one sample of Prunus mahaleb and another of a hybrid with P. fruticosa, the latter used as a graft stock for cherry
  8. Cai, Y. L. et al. 2007. Studies on genetic variation in cherry germplasm using RAPD analysis. Sci. Hort. 111:248-254. Note: this study included Prunus mahaleb as one of the wild species used as an outgroup
  9. Campbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
  10. Cascone, S. 2019. Green roof design: State of the art on technology and materials. Sustainability 11:3020. DOI: 10.3390/su11113020.
  11. Demilly, D. et al. 1996. Liste alphabétique des principales espèces de plantes cultivées et de mauvaises herbes. Noms latins et noms français, ed. 6. Note: GEVES-SNES, Beaucouzé, France
  12. Encke, F. et al. 1984. Zander: Handwörterbuch der Pflanzennamen, 13. Auflage
  13. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  14. Facciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
  15. Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
  16. Huxley, A., ed. 1992. The new Royal Horticultural Society dictionary of gardening
  17. Iezzoni, A. et al. 1991. Cherries (Prunus). Acta Hort. 290:111-173.
  18. Jahandiez, E. & R. Maire. 1931-1941. Catalogue des plantes du Maroc.
  19. Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
  20. Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
  21. Mouterde, P. 1966-. Nouvelle flore du Liban et de la Syrie.
  22. Pandey, A. et al. 2008. Genetic resources of Prunus (Rosaceae) in India. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 55:91-104. Note: this review included Prunus mahaleb locally used in India for its kernels
  23. Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
  24. Randall, R. P. 2007. The introduced flora of Australia and its weed status.
  25. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica. Note: = Cerasus mahaleb
  26. Rehm, S. & G. Espig. 1991. The cultivated plants of the tropics and subtropics
  27. Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
  28. Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:366. Note: introduced
  29. Shimada, T. et al. 2001. The genetic diversities of 4 species of subg. Lithocerasus (Prunus, Rosaceae) revealed by RAPD analysis. Euphytica 117:85-90. Note: cites
  30. Stace, C. 1995. New flora of the British Isles.
  31. Stewart, R. 1972. An annotated catalogue of the vascular plants of West Pakistan and Kashmir
  32. Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
  33. Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
  34. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
  35. Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986-2000. European garden flora.
  36. Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: = Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill.
  37. 2018. Mid-Atlantic invasive plant species (on-line resource)
Common names
LanguageNameAlternate namenoteseqCitation
EnglishGandhi cherry  1Pandey, A. et al. 2008. Genetic resources of Prunus (Rosaceae) in India. Genet. Resources Crop Evol. 55:91-104. Note: this review included Prunus mahaleb locally used in India for its kernels
Englishmahaleb cherry  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Englishperfumed cherry  1Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Englishrock cherry  1Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
EnglishSt. Lucie cherry  1Stace, C. 1995. New flora of the British Isles.
Frenchamarel  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Frenchbois-de-Sainte-Lucie  2Demilly, D. et al. 1996. Liste alphabétique des principales espèces de plantes cultivées et de mauvaises herbes. Noms latins et noms français, ed. 6. Note: GEVES-SNES, Beaucouzé, France
Frenchcerisier de Sainte-Lucie  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanFelsenkirsche  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
GermanSteinweichsel  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanishcerezo de Santa Lucía  2Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedishvejksel  2Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chineseyuan ye ying tao as Cerasus mahaleb2Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition). Note: = Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill.
Distribution
order_codeStatusContinentSubcontinentCountryStateNoteReference
1NativeAfricaNorthern AfricaMorocco  Jahandiez, E. & R. Maire. 1931-1941. Catalogue des plantes du Maroc.
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusArmenia   
1NativeAsia-TemperateCaucasusAzerbaijan   
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaKyrgyzstan   
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaTajikistan   
1NativeAsia-TemperateMiddle AsiaTurkmenistan   
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIran  Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica. Note: = Cerasus mahaleb
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaIraq  Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
1NativeAsia-TemperateWestern AsiaTurkey   
1NativeAsia-TropicalIndian SubcontinentPakistan n.Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica. Note: = Cerasus mahaleb
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeMoldova   
1NativeEuropeEastern EuropeUkraine incl. Krym 
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeAustria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeBelgium  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeCzech Republic  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeGermany  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeHungary  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSlovakia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeMiddle EuropeSwitzerland  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeAlbania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBosnia and Herzegovina  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeBulgaria  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeCroatia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeGreece  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeItaly incl. SicilyTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeMontenegro  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeNorth Macedonia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeRomania  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSerbia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSoutheastern EuropeSlovenia  Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeFrance incl. CorsicaTutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropePortugal  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
1NativeEuropeSouthwestern EuropeSpain  Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
2Cultivated    also cult. 
4NaturalizedSouthern AmericaSouthern South AmericaArgentinaBuenos Aires Amodeo, M. R. & S. M. Zalba. 2017. Sex morphs and invasiveness of a fleshy-fruited tree in natural grasslands from Argentina. Botany 1-31. DOI: 10.1139/cjb-2017-0041.
Native
Africa
  • NORTHERN AFRICA: Morocco
Asia-Temperate
  • WESTERN ASIA: Iran, Iraq, Turkey
  • CAUCASUS: Armenia, Azerbaijan
  • MIDDLE ASIA: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan
Asia-Tropical
  • INDIAN SUBCONTINENT: Pakistan (n.)
Europe
  • MIDDLE EUROPE: Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia
  • EASTERN EUROPE: Moldova, Ukraine (incl. Krym)
  • SOUTHEASTERN EUROPE: Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Croatia, Italy (incl. Sicily), North Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia
  • SOUTHWESTERN EUROPE: Spain, France (incl. Corsica), Portugal
Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Southern America
  • SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina [Buenos Aires]

Reference(s)
  1. Amodeo, M. R. & S. M. Zalba. 2017. Sex morphs and invasiveness of a fleshy-fruited tree in natural grasslands from Argentina. Botany 1-31. DOI: 10.1139/cjb-2017-0041.
  2. Euro+Med Editorial Committee. Euro+Med Plantbase: the information resource for Euro-Mediterranean plant diversity (on-line resource).
  3. Jahandiez, E. & R. Maire. 1931-1941. Catalogue des plantes du Maroc.
  4. Rechinger, K. H., ed. 1963-. Flora iranica. Note: = Cerasus mahaleb
  5. Townsend, C. C. & E. Guest. 1966-. Flora of Iraq.
  6. Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Economic Uses
UsageTypeNoteReference
Environmentalornamental Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
Environmentalrevegetator Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
Environmentalshade/shelter Krüssmann, G. 1984. Manual of cultivated broad-leaved trees and shrubs (English translation of Handbuch der Laubgehölze. 1976)
Environmentalshade/shelterpotential, for green roofsCascone, S. 2019. Green roof design: State of the art on technology and materials. Sustainability 11:3020. DOI: 10.3390/su11113020.
Food additivesflavoringleaves & seeds are used in Mid. EastFacciola, S. 1990. Cornucopia, a source book of edible plants Kampong Publications.
Weedseed contaminantpotentialCampbell, F. T., ed. 1995. Report of National Coalition of Exotic Plant Pest Councils (unpublished draft)
Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=30034. Accessed 15 April 2026.