Buds are usually clustered at the ends of twigs in an oak-like fashion. Small, round glands on petioles are often missing, even on young growth. Leaves are narrow to oval in shape and gradually taper to an acute tip. Leaf margins are finely and sharply toothed. Flowers open in May or June and are quite showy and attractive.
Flowers are white and borne as solitary flowers or a few in a cluster.
The sour fruit ripens in July and August and is attractive to birds. The trees are too small to have valuable timber. As a tree, the black cherry is at its best in the moist, deep soils of southern Ohio. Forest trees have long, clear trunks with little taper. Wild cherry is much more shade-tolerant as a young tree than other native cherries and is found in mature woodlands.