Perfumed cherry (Prunus mahaleb, Sp. Pl.: 474 (1753))

Family: Rosaceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 474 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Prunus

Vegetable: False

Observations: Europe to C. Asia and N. Pakistan, Morocco

Description

The Perfumed Cherry, scientifically known as Prunus mahaleb, is a captivating member of the Rosaceae family. Renowned for its aromatic scent, this species has a rich history and wide geographical distribution, ranging from Europe and Central Asia to Northern Pakistan and Morocco.

First formally described in the comprehensive work Species Plantarum in 1753 by the esteemed botanist Carl Linnaeus, the Perfumed Cherry has garnered attention for its remarkable characteristics and ecological adaptability. This deciduous shrub or small tree thrives in a variety of climates and terrains, showcasing its resilience and widespread appeal.

The Perfumed Cherry is typically characterized by its clusters of small, white blossoms that emit a delicate fragrance, a signature trait that has contributed to its common name. These flowers bloom in the spring, creating a visually and olfactorily pleasing spectacle that attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. Following the flowering period, the plant produces small, dark fruits that serve as a food source for various bird species, highlighting its ecological importance.

Native to a vast region extending from the diverse landscapes of Europe and Central Asia to the mountainous terrains of Northern Pakistan and the arid zones of Morocco, Prunus mahaleb exemplifies the adaptability and hardiness that members of the Rosaceae family often display. Its presence in such varied environments underscores its ability to thrive in different soil types and climatic conditions.

In summary, the Perfumed Cherry (Prunus mahaleb) is not only appreciated for its delightful scent and aesthetic appeal but also for its resilience and ecological contributions. This plant continues to be a subject of interest for botanists and horticulturists alike, reflecting the enduring legacy of Linnaeus’s early botanical classifications.

Common Names

Fra: bois de sainte lucie, cerisier de sainte lucie, amarel, bois-de-sainte-lucie, cerisier de sainte-lucie, bois de sainte-lucie, cerisier mahaleb, mahaleb
Deu: felsen-kirsche, stein-weichsel, felsenkirsche, stein-weichsel, steinweichsel
Eng: gandhi cherry, mahaleb cherry, st lucie cherry, st. lucie cherry, perfumed cherry, rock cherry, saint lucie cherry, st. lucie’s cherry
Lit: kvapioji vyšnia
Dan: weichsel
Nld: weichselboom
Pol: wiśnia wonna
Spa: cerezo de santa lucía
Est: lõhnav kirsipuu
Nno: mahaleb
Nob: mahaleb
Swe: vejksel
Fin: veikselinkirsikka
Cym: coeden geirios sant lucie
En: Perfumed cherry, Rock cherry, Mahaleb cherry, Gandhi cherry, St. Lucie cherry, Saint lucie cherry, St Lucie Cherry, St. Lucie’s Cherry, Rockcherry
Ar: محلب
Hy: Բալենի մահալեբյան
Az: Meşə albalısı
Eu: Oilaran
Bg: Махалебка
Ca: Cirerer de guineu
Zh: Yuan ye ying tao, 圆叶樱桃
Hr: Rašeljka
Cs: Mahalebka obecná
Da: Weichseltræ, Weichsel
Dv: މަހުލުނބޯ
Nl: Weichselboom
Et: Lõhnav kirsipuu
Fi: Veikselinkirsikka
Fr: Bois-de-Sainte-Lucie, Amarel, Cerisier de Sainte-Lucie, Bois de sainte lucie, Cerisier de sainte Lucie, Bois de Sainte-Lucie, Cerisier mahaleb, Mahaleb, Canonier, Faux Merisier, Prunier odorant, Quénot, Prunier mahaleb, Prunier de Sainte-Lucie
Ka: Ბალღოჯი
De: Steinweichsel, Felsenkirsche, Weichsel-Kirsche, Felsen-Kirsche, Felsen-Kirsche, Stein-Weichsel, Stein-Weichsel, Lucienholz, Weichselkirsche, Weichselrohr
Hu: Sajmeggy
It: Ciliegio canino, Ciliegio di Santa Lucia, Legno di Santa Lucia, Malebbo
Ky: Магалеб моюлу
Ko: 루치아벚나무
Ku: Kenêr
Lt: Kvapioji vyšnia
Ml: പുണ്യാവ
Nb: Mahaleb
Nn: Mahaleb
Os: Балгъодзы
Fa: محلب
Pl: Wiśnia wonna
Ru: Антипка
Sk: Čerešňa mahalebková, Mahalebka
Es: Cerezo de Santa Lucía, Cerecino, Cerezo de Mahoma, Cerezo de puerto, Pudriera
Sv: Vejksel
Zh-tw: 圓葉樱桃
Tr: Mahlep
Uz: Kamxastak
Cy: Coeden geirios Sant Lucie

Synonyms

• Prunus mahaleb var. typica (Fiori)
• Padus mahaleb ((L.) Borkh.)
• Mahaleb vulgaris (Takht.)
• Padellus mahaleb ((L.) Vassilcz.)
• Prunus mahaleb subsp. typica ((Asch. & Graebn.) Pénzes)
• Padus mahaleb var. typica ((Asch. & Graebn.) Buia)
• Cerasus mahaleb ((L.) Mill.)

Distribution

• Albania (native)
• Austria (native)
• Belgium (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• France (native)
• Germany (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Italy (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Morocco (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• Spain (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Alaska (introduced)
• Argentina Northeast (introduced)
• Argentina South (introduced)
• Arkansas (introduced)
• Baltic States (introduced)
• British Columbia (introduced)
• California (introduced)
• Central European Rus (introduced)
• Connecticut (introduced)
• Czechoslovakia (introduced)
• Delaware (introduced)
• Denmark (introduced)
• District of Columbia (introduced)
• East European Russia (introduced)
• Great Britain (introduced)
• Idaho (introduced)
• Illinois (introduced)
• Indiana (introduced)
• Iowa (introduced)
• Kansas (introduced)
• Kentucky (introduced)
• Maryland (introduced)
• Masachusettes (introduced)
• Michigan (introduced)
• Missouri (introduced)
• Montana (introduced)
• Netherlands (introduced)
• New Jersey (introduced)
• New Mexico (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New York (introduced)
• North Carolina (introduced)
• Norway (introduced)
• Ohio (introduced)
• Oklahoma (introduced)
• Ontario (introduced)
• Oregon (introduced)
• Pennsylvania (introduced)
• Sweden (introduced)
• Tennessee (introduced)
• Utah (introduced)
• Virginia (introduced)
• Washington (introduced)
• West Virginia (introduced)
• Wisconsin (introduced)

Additional Images

Flower

Taken Apr 29, 2021 by Hans van den Heuvel (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by JYCO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 23, 2018 by Fejul Xeto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 23, 2019 by Denis Bastianelli (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 23, 2019 by Denis Bastianelli (cc-by-sa)

© 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.

Fruit

Taken Jul 3, 2019 by Nadine Lewtas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2020 by julien pommier (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 6, 2019 by Philippe BARDET (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 11, 2021 by Aurelien Fridman (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2021 by Serge Facchin (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by JYCO (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2020 by Benoit Lawniczak (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 2, 2021 by Serge Facchin (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 31, 2020 by ludovic riche (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2019 by elena (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Nov 24, 2022 by Llandrich anna (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 3, 2021 by Fabio Serafini (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 13, 2017 by Neo Winter (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 20, 2020 by Romero Lau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 24, 2022 by JYCO (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 9, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Apr 5, 2014 by Tela Botanica − Paul FABRE (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2022 by 🌌 lolium (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2020 by Jean-René Girardeau (cc-by-sa)

Taken Mar 31, 2020 by ludovic riche (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Apr 15, 2014 by Photoflora – Jean-Luc TASSET (©)

Taken Jun 10, 2015 by Tela Botanica − George FOWLER (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2019 by 22Ben Combes (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2021 by Alain Bigou (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 30, 2019 by 22Ben Combes (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3022789)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:729931-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Prunus mahaleb L.)

Specifications

Growth habit: Shrub, Tree

Growth

Ph maximum: 8.0

Ph minimum: 7.5

Light: 7

Atmospheric humidity: 5

Bloom months: [‘apr’, ‘may’]

Soil nutriments: 3