Prunus tenella Batsch is a wild relative of almond, P. dulcis (Mill.) D. A. Webb,peach and nectarine, P. persica (L.) Batsch, plum, P. domestica L., sloe, P. spinosa L. and sweet cherry, P. avium (L.) L.

European regional assessment: Data Deficient (DD)
EU 27 regional assessment: Data Deficient (DD)

Prunus tenella is nationally threatened in Croatia and Slovakia and Near Threatened in Hungary; however, it is regionally assessed as Data Deficient as there is currently insufficient information available to evaluate this species at regional level. Further information is needed on its precise distribution, population size and trend, as well as the threats that are affecting the subpopulations.

This species native to middle, east and southeastern Europe, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation (Siberia) and China (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2010).

In Slovakia, this species is known from the southwest only. Maglocký (1999) pointed out seven sites. Recently, three localities were confirmed: 1) Gbelce, Drieňová hora Nature Reserve, 2) the Belianske kopce Hills, where some local subpopulations were confirmed, and 3) Kamenica nad Hronom, the Burdov Nature Reserve, with some local micro-populations (Eliáš Jr. unpublished). The origin of the occurrence in the Devínska Kobyla Hills near Bratislava is doubtful (Bertová 1992). One site was found near stone-pit Dlhý vrch in the Slovak karst National Park, but it is regarded as secondary (Šuvada pers. comm. 2009, cited by P. Eliáš pers. comm. 2010).

In Hungary it occurs in the North Hungarian Mountains (but is absent in Cserhát- and Börzsöny mountains), Transdanubia (Tolna, Villány-mountains), Great Hungarian Plain (Danube region,  Danube-Tisza köze region: Monor, Tóalmás, Bács-Vaskút, Tiszántúl-region: Kál-Kápolna, Kerecsend, Tiszavasvári, Ohat, Fegyvernek, Kondoros, Kisszénás, Csorvás, Kaba) (Soó 1966, Simon 1992).

Further research is needed to gather information about the precise distribution of this species throughout the rest of its range.

Further research is needed to gather information about the population size and trend of this species.

According to Soó (1966) and Simon (1992), in Hungary, this species grows in shrub steppes (Crataego–Cerasetum fruticosae, Pruno spinosae–Crataegetum), in association with almond shrubs (Amygdaletum nanae), in Karst shrub forests (Ceraso (mahaleb)–Quercetum pubescentis), loess oak woods (Aceri (tatarico)–Quercetum pubescenti–roboris), salt oak woodlands (Festuco pseudovinae–Quercetum roboris), and in association with Prunion spinosae species. It can grow in a range of soil types, but mainly is mainly found in loess soil (Soó 1966, Simon 1992).

P. tenella is nationally threatened in some countries but further research is needed to determine the threats affecting these subpopulations.

A wild relative of and potential gene donor to almond, peach and nectarine, plum, sloe and sweet cherry. Also used as an ornamental (USDA, ARS, National Genetic Resources Program 2010).

Knowledge of the national threat/conservation status of P. tenella is as follows:

• Croatia: Critically Endangered (Nikolić and Topić 2005).
• Slovakia: Endangered (Feráková et al. 2001).
• Hungary: Near Threatened (Király 2007) and protected according to the national list of protected and strictly protected plant and animal species and the Goverment decree on the Natura 2000 sites for the restoration of natual habitats and the maintenance of viable populations of protected species.
  

EURISCO reports only one germplasm accession of P. tenella but it is not reported to be of wild or weedy origin (EURISCO Catalogue 2010). A review of the ex situ conservation status of this species is required and germplasm collection and duplicated ex situ storage should be carried out as necessary.