Prunus mahaleb

Origin: Central and Southern Europe

Botanical characteristics: It is a small deciduous tree or shrub that is thorny and spreading. Its purple-grey bark is shiny and has cross stripes. The leaves are rounded-cordate with serrated margin; they are glossy, dark green and turn yellow in autumn. In spring the flowering is abundant, it bears small white flowers, very fragrant, in racemes. The fruits are ovoid, blackish and shiny.

Agronomic and environmental characteristics: It grows spontaneously in the Peninsula, especially in the eastern areas, in the sub-Mediterranean woodlands of arid valleys and in combination with the Quercus pubescens.

Use: It is mainly used for environmental clean-up and naturalization of brownfield areas, hilly zones and very dry soils. It is used for ornamental purposes, too.