Taxon: Prunus virginiana L.

Summary

Genus:

Prunus

Subgenus:

Cerasus

Section:

Laurocerasus

Family:

Rosaceae

Subfamily:

Amygdaloideae

Tribe:

Amygdaleae

Nomen number:

30151

Place of publication:

Sp. pl. 1:473. 1753

Protologue link:

https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/358492

Comment:

although the name was proposed for conservation (nom. cons.) with a conserved type (Shenzhen ICN Art. 14.9), its conservation was considered unnecessary by the Committee for Vascular Plants, as an acceptable typification was not deemed to have occurred, so lectotypification on an appropriate and available element could resolve the matter

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

02/27/2019 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

23 (13 active, 10 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Prunus virginiana L. var. demissa (Nutt.) Torr. (6 active accession[s])
Prunus virginiana L. var. virginiana (0 active accession[s])

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

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

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

University of Georgia Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Applequist, W. L. 2013. Report of the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants: 65. Taxon 62:1316. Note: proposal not recommended, considered unnecessary since it will only require a lectotypification, which is considered not to have been thus far accomplished, to resolve the application of the name
Aradhya, M. K. et al. 2004. Molecular characterization of variability and relationships among seven cultivated and selected wild species of Prunus L. using amplified fragment length polymorphism. Sci. Hort. 103:131-144.
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. Note: this study recognized this species as a member of subgenus Padus
Bortiri, E. et al. 2006. Phylogenetic analysis of morphology in Prunus reveals extensive homoplasy. Pl. Syst. Evol. 259:53-71. Note: this study confirmed that Prunus virginiana is closer to members of Laurocerasus
Cooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: poisonous
Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 140-141.
Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
Gandhi, K. N. et al. 2009. (1886-1887) Proposals to conserve the names Prunus serotina and P. virginiana (Rosaceae) with conserved types. Taxon 58:312-314.
Gilbert, L. 1998. pers. comm. Note: re. common names, as Prunus virginiana melanocarpa
Gleason, H. A. & A. Cronquist. 1963. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada.
Hancock, J. F. et al. 2008. Chapter 9. Peaches. In: Hancock, J. F., ed., Temperate fruit crop breeding: germplasm to genomics 265-298. Note: this review cited Prunus virginiana among those species "that have been hybridized with P. persica"
Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
IPGRI. New World Fruits Database (on-line resource).
Kartesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. Note: with three varieties
Kearney, T. H. & R. H. Peebles. 1969. Arizona flora, ed. 2.
Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
Little, E. L., Jr. 1978. Important forest trees of the United States
Little, E. L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees, Agric. Handb. 541
Martin, W. C. & C. R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico.
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Moss, E. H. & J. G. Packer. 1983. Flora of Alberta, ed. 2.
Munro, D. B. Canadian poisonous plants information system (on-line resource).
Personal Care Products Council. International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Porsild, A. E. & W. J. Cody. 1980. Vascular plants of continental Northwest Territories, Canada
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Rohrer, J. R. 2011. Prunus (Rosaceae). In: FNA Editorial Committee, Flora of North America. 9:365.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Tutin, T. G. et al., eds. 1964-1980. Flora europaea.
Walters, S. M. et al., eds. 1986-2000. European garden flora.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
2018. Oklahoma vascular plant database

Common names

Language	Name	note	seq	Citation
English	bitter-berry		1	Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
English	chokecherry		1	Wiersema, J. H. & B. León. 1999. World economic plants: a standard reference CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL.
English	Virginia bird cherry		1	Erhardt, W. et al. 2008. Der große Zander: Enzyklopädie der Pflanzennamen
English (Canada)	red choke cherry	Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada official name	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 140-141.
French	cerisier de Virginie		2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French (Canada)	cerisier de Virginie	Agriculture & Agroalimentaire Canada nom officiel	2	Darbyshire, S. J. 2003. Inventory of Canadian Agricultural Weeds Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 140-141.
German	virginischer Traubenkirschbaum		2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	cerezo de Virginia		2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedish	virginiahägg		2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	New Brunswick		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Newfoundland and Labrador		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Nova Scotia		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Ontario		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Eastern Canada	Canada	Québec	s.	Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Illinois
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Iowa
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Kansas
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Minnesota
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Missouri		Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Nebraska
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	North Dakota
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Oklahoma		2018. Oklahoma vascular plant database
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	South Dakota
1	Native	Northern America	North-Central U.S.A.	United States	Wisconsin
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Connecticut
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Indiana
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maine
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Massachusetts
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Michigan
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Hampshire
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New Jersey
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	New York
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Ohio
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Pennsylvania
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Rhode Island
1	Native	Northern America	Northeastern U.S.A.	United States	Vermont
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Colorado
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Idaho		Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Montana
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Oregon		Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Washington		Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
1	Native	Northern America	Northwestern U.S.A.	United States	Wyoming
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	New Mexico		Martin, W. C. & C. R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico.
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas		Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Kentucky
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Maryland
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	North Carolina	w.	Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Tennessee		Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Virginia
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Arizona		Kearney, T. H. & R. H. Peebles. 1969. Arizona flora, ed. 2.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	California
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Nevada		Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
1	Native	Northern America	Southwestern U.S.A.	United States	Utah		Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
1	Native	Northern America	Subarctic America	Canada	Northwest Territories	s.w.	Porsild, A. E. & W. J. Cody. 1980. Vascular plants of continental Northwest Territories, Canada
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Alberta		Moss, E. H. & J. G. Packer. 1983. Flora of Alberta, ed. 2.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	British Columbia		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Manitoba		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
1	Native	Northern America	Western Canada	Canada	Saskatchewan		Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.

Native
Northern America

SUBARCTIC AMERICA: Canada [Northwest Territories (s.w.)]
EASTERN CANADA: Canada [Québec (s.), Nova Scotia, Ontario, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador]
WESTERN CANADA: Canada [Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia]
NORTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Connecticut, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont]
NORTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Wisconsin]
NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Wyoming]
SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina (w.), Tennessee, Virginia]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [New Mexico, Texas]
SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah]

Reference(s)

Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas
Cronquist, A. et al. 1972-. Intermountain flora.
Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.
Kearney, T. H. & R. H. Peebles. 1969. Arizona flora, ed. 2.
Martin, W. C. & C. R. Hutchins. 1980. A flora of New Mexico.
Moss, E. H. & J. G. Packer. 1983. Flora of Alberta, ed. 2.
Porsild, A. E. & W. J. Cody. 1980. Vascular plants of continental Northwest Territories, Canada
Radford, A. E. et al. 1964. Manual of the vascular flora of the Carolinas.
Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.
Steyermark, J. A. 1977. Flora of Missouri.
Wofford, B. E. Database of Tennessee vascular plants (on-line resource).
2018. Oklahoma vascular plant database

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	revegetator	for land reclamation, as Prunus virginiana melanocarpa	Gilbert, L. 1998. pers. comm. Note: re. common names, as Prunus virginiana melanocarpa
Materials	wood	veneer	Little, E. L., Jr. 1978. Important forest trees of the United States
Medicines	folklore		Duke, J. A. et al. 2002. CRC Handbook of medicinal herbs
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Kingsbury, J. M. 1964. Poisonous plants of the United States and Canada. Note: poisonous
Vertebrate poisons	mammals		Cooper, M. R. & A. W. Johnson. 1998. Poisonous plants and fungi in Britain: animal and human poisoning Note: poisonous

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=30151. Accessed 12 May 2026.