Padus is a subgenus of Prunus, characterised by having racemose inflorescences.

[4] The term Padus (παδος) in reference to the plant comes from the Greek father of botany, Theophrastus, meaning "from the River Po.

Bird cherries are native throughout the temperate Northern Hemisphere, including:[9][1] Species formerly included in the genus Maddenia (Chinese: 假稠李, false bird cherries, or 臭樱, odorous cherries) form a monophyletic group.

Examples are: The Pygeum group is monophyletic if P. africana (possibly as well as P. crassifolia) is excluded.

All the species formerly included in the genus Pygeum, except P. africana (and P. crassifolia), are native to tropical Asia and Oceania.