There are many shrubs that are family members including hawthorne, juneberry, mountain ash, wild rose, blackberries, raspberries, and gooseberries. The particular page will cover the member of the genus Prunus . About 25 species occur in the USA, of which 18 are tree size. All the U.P. cherries have simple leaves with finely-toothed margins . They all produce edible fruits and all have a distinct bitter taste to the twigs.
Flowers are white.
Only black cherry commonly grows to tree size and form, although it occurs as a shrub on poorer sites. On better sites, the other cherries sometimes become small trees. Cherries and cherry-like shrubs can often be found along roads under powerlines. Some cherry-eating birds commonly roost on powerlines and drop the pits below. The teeth along the leaf margin are somewhat incurved.