Small tree to 10 m; lvs obovate to broadly oblong-obovate, 7-12 cm, abruptly acuminate, broadly cuneate to rounded or subcordate at base, coarsely and often doubly serrate with irregular, triangular-ovate, rather blunt, gland-tipped teeth often 2 mm high, ±hairy beneath,
at least in the vein-axils; fls in clusters of 3 or 4, on reddish pedicels 1-2 cm; sep glandular on the margin, pubescent above, glabrous beneath; pet 10-15 mm; fr ellipsoid, red, varying to yellow, 2-3 cm; 2n=16. Moist woods and thickets; N.S. (intr.) and Me. to Man., s. to Conn., N.Y., n. O., Ind., Ill., and ne. Io. May.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
Similar species: Page is under construction. Please see link below for general information on the genus Prunus.
Etymology: Prunus is the Latin name for plum.
Author: The Morton Arboretum
From Flora of Indiana (1940) by Charles C. Deam
Very local in the northern half of the state where it is found in wet woodland. All of the specimens I have seen in the wild were small, although one which I transplanted grew to a diameter of 7 inches at breast height when it was killed by borers. Its flowers are large, somewhat pinkish, and profuse; they appear early in April, making it the most ornamental species of the genus in this area. It suckers from the roots but not freely.