Description
Chokecherry is a tall and picturesque, suckering shrub-tree commonly found along rivers, streams, roadside ditches, at low to mid elevations, and moist locations in the high country. It grows 15′-25′ tall. The pendulous spring flowers are attractive to many pollinators, including bees, butterflies, beetles and hummingbirds. Blooms April-May. Chokecherry is a pefect plant for riparian restoration, woodland landscaping, native hedges, or as a focal point on the edge of a garden. Depending on location, chokecherry can be somewhat drought tolerant, but will benefit from some summer irrigation when planted at low elevations. Prefers full sun or part-shade, but will bloom more with more sun. Chokecherry is a larval host plant for the two-tailed swallowtail butterfly. Deer resistant once established and growth exceeds deer browse height. Deer will browse new suckering shoots. The showy fruit is a round, juicy drupe with a red color turning purple when ripe. The red, unripe fruit contains more toxic cyanide than the ripe purple fruit. Although the fruit has some toxicity it was eaten by many Native American tribes and is still processed into jams and pies. Chokecherry is deciduous and is a species in the Rosaceae (Rose) family. Golden-yellow to orange fall color.
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) seeds are large seeds, and our seed packets contain approximately 25 seeds.
Seed Germination Instructions
90-120 days cold-moist stratification. Sow outside in fall.
