Chokecherry - Prunus virginiana is most easily identified by the combination of bi-color bud scales and broad elliptic leaves with sharply toothed margins. It is a deciduous shrub or tree that reaches heights of 15-30 feet tall with a narrow irregular crown and an erect or leaning form. Native to open woods, and roadsides on rich or moist soils from 0-2600 m. Found from Canada in the North to Georgia in the South, continuing on to the West Coast but absent from the Southeastern coastal plains. Similar in appearance to the Black Cherry and Pin Cherry but can be distinguished by leaf size and shape.
Image Citation: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
The bark of the Chokecherry is smooth, dark brown in color when young becoming black and fissured with age. The leaves are alternate, simple, thin (almost papery), obvate, oblong or oval, sharply toothed, dark green upper surface, lower surface paler in color. The leaves become yellow in the fall. The flowers are 8-12 mm in diameter, 5 petals, 15-20 stamens, occuring in mid Spring to early Summer. The fruit is a rounded juicy drupe that is 6-10 mm in diameter maturing late Summer to early Summer.
Image Citation: Rob Routledge, Sault College, Bugwood.org
The Chokecherry is recommended for hardiness zones 2-7. Chokecherry is also commonly called Virginia bird cherry. Although common in the wild in many parts of the U. S., this species is infrequently sold in commerce. However, certain cultivars, such as the purple-leaved Prunus virginiana ‘Schubert’, have become popular landscape plants.
Image Citation: Mary Ellen (Mel) Harte, Bugwood.org
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