[6] Alabama cherry is a deciduous[4] flowering plant in the rose family endemic to the Southeastern United States.

[8] Leaves are alternate; ovate to elliptic in shape; rounded or slightly narrowed at the base; usually obtuse, rounded, or emarginate at the apex, but sometimes short acuminate, abruptly acute, or acutish; 3–12.5 centimetres (1.2–4.9 in) in length and 2–6.5 centimetres (0.79–2.56 in) in width; with petioles that are 2–12 millimetres (0.079–0.472 in) long.

[4][7][8][9] Flowers grow from the axils of leaves on elongated racemes that are 4–6 inches (10–15 cm) long.

[8] The fruit is a small reddish, dark purple, or black, globose drupe, about 10 millimetres (0.39 in) in diameter.

[4][8] It is known to occur in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina,[3][4][11] Alabama cherry is sympatric with its close relative Prunus serotina sensu stricto, occurring wholly within its natural range and being similar but morphologically distinct from it.

For example, as of 2023, Plants of the World Online[12] and Flora of North America[8] classify it as P. serotina var.

The study also suggested that future research should investigate what underlying factors are maintaining the phenotypic distinctiveness between the two.