An intolerant, pioneer shrub or small tree found in all but the southeastern states and the most widely distributed North American cherry. Leaves are deciduous, obvate, dark green, and serrate with a glandular petiole. Twigs are reddish-brown with a strong bitter taste. Buds are darker on the lower portion of the scales. Fruit is a red, black, or yellow drupe borne in racemes. Bark is relatively smooth and dark red-brown to gray-brown.