Wild cherry is much more shade-tolerant as a young tree than other native cherries and is found in mature woodlands. The leaves are alternate, simple, and have leaf margins that are broken by many fine, incurved teeth. Leaves are medium green above and light green beneath. Glands on the petioles are always present. Buds are not clustered at the ends of twigs.
Terminal buds are present, larger, and more pointed than the lateral buds.
The bark on branches and young trunks is smooth, bright reddish-brown, and glossy. The twigs have a bitter, almond taste. On older trunks the bark becomes rough and broken into thick, irregular plates. Flowers are white and open in May or June. Flowers are borne in a many-flowered raceme.