Family: Rosaceae
Author: L.
Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 474 (1753)
Year: 1753
Status: accepted
Rank: species
Genus: Prunus
Vegetable: Unknown
Observations: Caucasus
Description
The Morello cherry, known scientifically as Prunus cerasus, is a captivating fruit-bearing plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. This small deciduous tree or large shrub is revered for its tart, sour cherries, which stand in contrast to the sweet varieties more commonly associated with cherries. Originally described by the renowned botanist Carl Linnaeus in his seminal work “Species Plantarum” in 1753, the Morello cherry has captivated horticulturists and culinary enthusiasts alike.
Native to the regions of the Caucasus, Prunus cerasus thrives in temperate climates, where it brings a burst of vibrant red to gardens and orchards alike. The fruit, typically smaller and darker than sweet cherries, is distinguished by its intense, tangy flavor, making it a favorite for use in cooking and baking. Morello cherries are often incorporated into an array of delectable dishes, from traditional cherry pies and tarts to compotes and preserves, lending their unique taste to both sweet and savory recipes.
A member of the extensive Rosaceae family, the Morello cherry shares its lineage with a variety of other fruits and ornamental plants, each contributing their own touch of beauty and utility to the world. The tree itself is a lovely addition to any landscape, with its delicate white to pale pink blossoms providing early spring interest before giving way to the abundant clusters of dark-red fruit.
For those with a green thumb, cultivating Morello cherries can be particularly rewarding. The tree prefers full sun and well-drained soil and benefits from regular pruning to maintain its shape and maximize fruit production. Its relatively compact size makes it suitable for smaller gardens or for planting in mixed borders where its spring blossoms and summer fruit can be appreciated up close.
In summary, the Morello cherry is a plant of notable historical significance and modern-day appeal, cherished for its distinctive tart cherries and ornamental qualities. Whether growing it in your garden or savoring its fruit in culinary creations, Prunus cerasus remains a testament to the enduring allure of nature’s bounty.
Common Names
Mlt: amarena
Fra: cerisier acide, cerisier aigre, griottier acide, griottier, cerisier commun, cerisier à cerises acides, griottier
Eng: dwarf cherry, morello cherry, pie cherry, sour cherry, tart cherry, amarelle cherry
Lit: paprastoji vyšnia
Deu: sauer-kirsche, sauerkirsche, sauerkirschenbaum, strauchige sauer-kirsche, weichsel, weichselkirsche
Dan: sur-kirsebær, surkirsebær
Tur: visne
Spa: cerezo ácido, ginjeira, guindo
Por: ginjeira
Lav: sk
Swe: surkörsbär, allhelgonakörsbär, amarell, brunkörsbär, klarbär, maraschino, morell, surkörs
Ces: třešeň višeň
Hun: vadmeggy
Ell: vissinia
Nld: zure kers
Fin: hapankirsikka
Cym: ceirios, ceirios coch, ceiriosen, coeden geirios coch, sirian coch, sirianen
En: Morello cherry, Pie cherry, Tart cherry, Dwarf cherry, Sour cherry, Tart Cherries, Вишня, Amarelle Cherry
Af: Suurkersie
Sq: Vishnja
Ar: كرز حامض
Hy: Բալենի
Az: Gilənar
Eu: Gingondo
Be: Вішня звычайная, Вішня
Bn: টক চেরি
Bs: Višnja
Bg: Обикновена вишна
Ca: Guinder
Zh: Ou zhou suan ying tao, 欧洲酸樱桃
Co: Amarascu
Hr: Višnja
Cs: Třešeň višeň
Da: Sur-Kirsebær, Surkirsebær
Nl: Zure kers, Waal
Eo: Acida ĉerizo
Et: Hapu kirsipuu
Fi: Hapankirsikka
Fr: Cerisier acide, Griottier, Cerisier aigre, Griottier acide, Cerisier commun, Cerisier à cerises acides, griottier
Gl: Guindeira
Ka: Ალუბალი
De: Sauerkirsche, Sauerkirschenbaum, Weichsel, Sauer-Kirsche, Strauchige Sauer-Kirsche, Weichselkirsche, Baumweichsel
El: Βυσσινιά, Vissinia
He: דובדבן חמוץ
Hu: Meggy, Vadmeggy
Id: Kersen
It: Marasca, Marena, Ciliegio acido, Ciliegio aspro, Amareno, Ciliegio montano, Marasco
Kk: Kädimgi şïye, Кәдімгі шие, كادىمگى شىييە
Ko: 신양 앵두
Ku: Albalû
Lv: Skābais ķirsis, Sk
Lt: Paprastoji vyšnia
Mk: Вишна
Mt: Amarena
No: Kirsebær
Ps: معمولي آلوبالو
Fa: آلبالو
Pl: Wiśnia pospolita
Pt: Ginjeira, Cereja ácida
Pt-br: Ginja, Cereja-ácida-européia
Qu: Sirisa
Ro: Vişin
Ru: Вишня обыкновенная
Sr: Вишња
Sk: Čerešňa višňová
Es: Guindo, Cerezo ácido, Višnja, Ginjeira, Cerezo común
Sv: Surkörsbär, Allhelgonakörsbär, Amarell, Brunkörsbär, Klarbär, Maraschino, Morell, Surkörs
Zh-tw: 歐洲酸櫻桃
Tt: Гади чия
Zh-hant: 歐洲酸櫻桃
Tr: Vişne, Visne
Uk: Вишня звичайна
Uz: Shpanka
Cy: Coeden geirios coch, Ceirios, Ceirios Coch, Ceiriosen, Sirian Coch, Sirianen
Synonyms
- Prunus cerasus var. frutescens (C.K.Schneid.)
- Cerasus pendula (Liegel)
- Prunus cerasus var. duracina (L.)
- Cerasus vulgaris var. rhexii (Hartwig & Rümpler)
- Cerasus austera multiplex (M.Roem.)
- Cerasus acida var. rhexii (G.Kirchn.)
- Cerasus communis (Poit. & Turpin)
- Cerasus vulgaris albidus (Risso)
- Prunus vulgaris ((Mill.) Schur)
- Prunus cerasus f. frutescens ((Neilr.) Rehder)
- Cerasus caproniana var. persiciflora (Ser.)
- Cerasus vulgaris subsp. acida ((Ehrh.) Buia)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. umbraculifera ((H.Jaeger) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Prunus cerasus f. persiciflora (Dippel)
- Prunus cerasus flore-roseo-pleno (Koehne)
- Prunus cerasus salicifolia ((H.Jaeger) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Cerasus cerasus ((L.) Eaton & Wright)
- Prunus cerasus subsp. eucerasus (Asch. & Graebn.)
- Prunus cerasus var. caproniana (L.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. montmorencyana (Ser.)
- Cerasus collina f. flore-plena (S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Cerasus acida var. cucullata (G.Kirchn.)
- Cerasus propera (Poit. & Turpin)
- Cerasus caproniana ((L.) DC.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. griotta (DC.)
- Prunus cerasus var. recta ((Liegel) Focke)
- Prunus avium var. caproniana ((L.) Rouy & E.G.Camus)
- Prunus recta ((Liegel) K.Koch)
- Cerasus vulgaris florepleno (Loudon)
- Cerasus vulgaris (Mill.)
- Prunus cerasus f. umbraculifera ((H.Jaeger) Rehder)
- Prunus cerasus subsp. caproniana ((L.) Schübl. & G.Martens)
- Prunus cerasus f. ranunculiflora ((Van Houtte) Dippel)
- Prunus cerasus f. globosa ((Späth) C.K.Schneid.)
- Prunus cerasus f. semperflorens ((Ehrh.) C.K.Schneid.)
- Cerasus caproniana ranunculiflora (Van Houtte)
- Cerasus caproniana var. cordigera (Ser.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. montmenrocyana (Ser.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. umbraculifera (Lavallée)
- Prunus cerasus var. plena (L.)
- Cerasus conglobata (Poit. & Turpin)
- Prunus cerasus var. austera (L.)
- Prunus caproniana f. salicifolia (Zabel)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. plena ((L.) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Cerasus austera ((L.) Borkh.)
- Cerasus vulgaris acidula (Risso)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. semperflorens ((Ehrh.) Buia)
- Prunus cerasus aureovariegata ((C.K.Schneid.) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Prunus cerasus f. salicifolia ((H.Jaeger) Rehder)
- Cerasus hortensis var. serotina (Gray)
- Prunus cerasus var. persiciflora (H.Jaeger)
- Prunus cerasus f. rhexii ((G.Kirchn.) Voss)
- Cerasus caproniana var. pallescens (Ser.)
- Cerasus collina f. aureomarginata (Pojark.)
- Cerasus acida var. flore-pleno (G.Kirchn.)
- Prunus cerasus var. erythrocarpus (Rchb.)
- Cerasus semperflorens var. sessiliflora (Ser.)
- Cerasus longipes (Poit. & Turpin)
- Cerasus caproniana var. gobetta (Ser.)
- Cerasus vulgaris var. marasca ((Host) Buia)
- Prunus cerasus var. marasca ((Host) Vis.)
- Cerasus vulgaris subsp. eucerasus ((Asch. & Graebn.) Buia)
- Prunus cerasus var. jenensis (Bogenh.)
- Prunus cerasus var. acida ((Ehrh.) Willd.)
- Prunus cerasus var. umbraculifera (H.Jaeger)
- Cerasus marasca (Host)
- Cerasus caproniana var. sativa (Delastre)
- Prunus cerasus ranunculifera (H.Jaeger)
- Prunus cerasus var. globosa (Späth)
- Prunus cerasus var. pumila (C.F.Ludw.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. salicifolia (Lavallée)
- Cerasus peracida (Poit. & Turpin)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. persiciflora ((Ser.) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Prunus caproniana florepleno (Zabel)
- Druparia cerasus ((L.) Clairv.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. pumila (Lavallée)
- Prunus cerasus f. plena ((L.) Loisel. ex Voss)
- Cerasus recta (Liegel)
- Cerasus vulgaris var. frutescens ((Neilr.) Cinovskis)
- Prunus cerasus florepleno (Wittm.)
- Prunus cerasus f. semiplena (C.K.Schneid.)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. semiplena ((C.K.Schneid.) Buia)
- Cerasus semperflorens ((Ehrh.) Borkh.)
- Prunus cerasus f. aureovariegata (C.K.Schneid.)
- Prunus cerasus plena ((L.) H.Jaeger)
- Cerasus caproniana melanocarpa (Dierb.)
- Prunus cerasus var. salicifolia (H.Jaeger)
- Prunus plena ((L.) Poir.)
- Prunus cerasus var. pendula (Focke)
- Cerasus caproniana var. multiplex (Ser.)
- Cerasus collina f. albovariegata (Pojark.)
- Prunus cerasus var. rhexii (H.Jaeger)
- Cerasus vulgaris var. austera ((L.) Janch.)
- Prunus caproniana ((L.) Gaudin)
- Prunus semperflorens (Ehrh.)
- Prunus avium subsp. duracina ((L.) Schübl. & G.Martens)
- Cerasus acida plena (M.Roem.)
- Cerasus acida ((Ehrh.) Borkh.)
- Prunus austera ((L.) Ehrh.)
- Prunus cerasus subsp. marasca ((Host) Nyman)
- Cerasus caproniana flore-roseo-pleno (Van Houtte)
- Prunus acida (Ehrh.)
- Prunus cerasus var. bunyardii (Ingram)
- Prunus cerasus ienensis (Bogenh.)
- Prunus cerasus var. ranunculiflora (L.H.Bailey)
- Prunus cerasus subsp. vulgaris (Voss)
- Cerasus vulgaris dulcis (Risso)
- Prunus cerasus var. typica (C.K.Schneid.)
- Cerasus avium subsp. duracina ((L.) Janch.)
- Cerasus brevipes (Poit. & Turpin)
- Cerasus officinarum (Poit. & Turpin)
- Cerasus collina (Lej. & Courtois)
- Cerasus semperflorens var. pendula-aurea (G.Paul)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. aureovariegata ((C.K.Schneid.) Buia)
- Cerasus caproniana var. polygyna ((DC. ex Ser.) Ser.)
- Prunus cerasus flore-albopleno (Hartwig)
- Prunus cerasus subsp. austera ((L.) Ehrh.)
- Prunus aestiva (Salisb.)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. rhexii ((G.Kirchn.) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Prunus cerasus f. marasca ((Host) C.K.Schneid.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. humilis (Lavallée)
- Prunus rosea ((L.) Poir.)
- Prunus cerasus var. rosea (L.)
- Prunus caproniana serotina (Zabel)
- Cerasus hortensis (Mill.)
- Cerasus vulgaris var. caproniana ((L.) Buia)
- Cerasus avium subsp. acida ((Ehrh.) Bonnier & Layens)
- Prunus avium subsp. cerasus ((L.) Rouy & E.G.Camus)
- Prunus cerasus f. dumosa (Dippel)
- Cerasus caproniana var. erythrocarpa (Dierb.)
- Cerasus vulgaris f. frutescens ((C.K.Schneid.) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Prunus cerasus var. humilis (Bean)
- Prunus cerasus f. variegata (L.H.Bailey)
- Prunus cerasa (Crantz)
- Prunus cerasus subsp. acida ((Ehrh.) Asch. & Graebn.)
- Cerasus caproniana var. variegata (Ser.)
- Prunus cerasus semperflorens ((Ehrh.) S.Ya.Sokolov)
- Cerasus caproniana regalis (Roem.)
- Prunus cerasus var. semperflorens ((Ehrh.) W.D.J.Koch)
Distribution
- North Caucasus (native)
- Afghanistan (introduced)
- Alaska (introduced)
- Argentina South (introduced)
- Austria (introduced)
- Baltic States (introduced)
- Belgium (introduced)
- British Columbia (introduced)
- Bulgaria (introduced)
- California (introduced)
- Central European Rus (introduced)
- Connecticut (introduced)
- Czechoslovakia (introduced)
- Delaware (introduced)
- District of Columbia (introduced)
- East European Russia (introduced)
- East Himalaya (introduced)
- France (introduced)
- Georgia (introduced)
- Germany (introduced)
- Great Britain (introduced)
- Hungary (introduced)
- Idaho (introduced)
- Illinois (introduced)
- Indiana (introduced)
- Iowa (introduced)
- Iran (introduced)
- Ireland (introduced)
- Irkutsk (introduced)
- Italy (introduced)
- Kansas (introduced)
- Kazakhstan (introduced)
- Kentucky (introduced)
- Korea (introduced)
- Madeira (introduced)
- Maine (introduced)
- Maryland (introduced)
- Masachusettes (introduced)
- Michigan (introduced)
- Missouri (introduced)
- Montana (introduced)
- Nebraska (introduced)
- New Brunswick (introduced)
- New Hampshire (introduced)
- New Jersey (introduced)
- New Mexico (introduced)
- New South Wales (introduced)
- New York (introduced)
- New Zealand North (introduced)
- New Zealand South (introduced)
- North Carolina (introduced)
- Nova Scotia (introduced)
- Ohio (introduced)
- Ontario (introduced)
- Oregon (introduced)
- Pakistan (introduced)
- Pennsylvania (introduced)
- Poland (introduced)
- Portugal (introduced)
- Prince Edward I. (introduced)
- Québec (introduced)
- Rhode I. (introduced)
- Sardegna (introduced)
- Sicilia (introduced)
- South European Russi (introduced)
- Spain (introduced)
- Sweden (introduced)
- Switzerland (introduced)
- Tadzhikistan (introduced)
- Transcaucasus (introduced)
- Turkey (introduced)
- Turkmenistan (introduced)
- Ukraine (introduced)
- Uzbekistan (introduced)
- Vermont (introduced)
- Virginia (introduced)
- Washington (introduced)
- West Himalaya (introduced)
- West Siberia (introduced)
- West Virginia (introduced)
- Xinjiang (introduced)
- Yugoslavia (introduced)
Additional Images
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Flower
Taken Mar 28, 2017 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 28, 2017 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 28, 2017 by Creu Lopez (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 20, 2018 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Fruit
Taken Apr 16, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 19, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 19, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 11, 2017 by abdullah pllana (cc-by-sa)
Leaf
Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 17, 2021 by padrós toni (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 19, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)
Taken May 19, 2018 by Cruz Fer (cc-by-sa)
Bark
Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Oğuzhan (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 16, 2021 by Sabin Poenariu (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 29, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 17, 2021 by padrós toni (cc-by-sa)
Taken Apr 16, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)
Habit
Taken Jun 4, 2020 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 6, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Dec 9, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jun 29, 2022 by Kai Best (cc-by-sa)
Taken Oct 29, 2020 by Dieter Wagner (cc-by-sa)
Other
Taken Mar 29, 2021 by ECO_ECO_CC (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 4, 2020 by Fabrice Ainamor (cc-by-sa)
Taken Jul 23, 2021 by Éliandre Fleurdepom (cc-by-sa)
Taken Mar 27, 2022 by Jacques Zuber (cc-by-sa)
Taken Aug 1, 2022 by Oğuzhan (cc-by-sa)
Sources
- WFO (No URL)
- IPNI (No URL)
- GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3021922)
- POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:729574-1)
- PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Prunus cerasus L.)
Specifications
Growth
