Prunus virginiana, commonly known as common chokecherry, is a deciduous small tree or suckering shrub often confused with chokeberry, due to similarities in the looks of their fruits. The fruits of both species are known for their rich antioxidant content. Common chokecherry plays an important ecological role as a larval host for numerous moth species.
I. Appearance and Characteristics
Prunus virginiana, commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry (also black chokecherry for P. virginiana var. demissa), is a species of bird cherry (Prunus subgenus Padus) native to North America.
Chokecherry is a suckering shrub or small tree growing to 1–6 metres (3+1⁄2–19+1⁄2 feet) tall, rarely to 10 m (33 ft) and exceptionally wide, 18 m (60 ft) with a trunk as thick as 30 centimetres (12 in). The leaves are oval, 2.5–10 cm (1–4 in) long and 1.2–5 cm (1⁄2–2 in) wide, with a serrated margin. The stems rarely exceed 2 cm (3⁄4 in) in length.
The flowers are produced in racemes 4–11 cm (1+1⁄2–4+1⁄4 in) long in late spring (well after leaf emergence), eventually growing up to 15 cm. They are 8.5–12.7 millimetres (3⁄8–1⁄2 in) across.
The fruits (drupes) are about 6–14 mm (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) in diameter, range in color from bright red to black, and possess a very astringent taste, being both somewhat sour and somewhat bitter. They get darker and marginally sweeter as they ripen. They each contain a large stone.
The wild chokecherry is often considered a pest, as it is a host for the tent caterpillar, a threat to other fruit plants. It is also a larval host to the black-waved flannel moth, the blinded sphinx, the cecropia moth, the coral hairstreak, the cynthia moth, the elm sphinx, Glover’s silkmoth, the hummingbird clearwing moth, the imperial moth, the Io moth, the polyphemus moth, the promethea moth, the red-spotted purple, the small-eyed sphinx, the spring azure, the striped hairstreak, the tiger swallowtail, the twin-spotted sphinx, and Weidemeyer’s admiral.
Many wildlife, including birds and game animals, eat the berries. Moose, elk, mountain sheep, deer and rabbits eat the foliage, twigs, leaves, and buds. Deer and elk sometimes browse the twigs profusely, not letting the plant grow above knee height. The leaves serve as food for caterpillars of various Lepidoptera.
The stone of the fruit is poisonous. Chokecherry, including the foliage, is toxic to horses, moose, cattle, goats, deer, and other animals with segmented stomachs (rumens), especially after the leaves have wilted (such as after a frost or after branches have been broken); wilting releases cyanide and makes the plant sweet. About 4.5–9 kilograms (10–20 pounds) of foliage can be fatal. In horses, symptoms include heavy breathing, agitation, and weakness.
The chokecherry is closely related to the black cherry (Prunus serotina) of eastern North America, which can reach 30 m (100 ft) tall and has larger leaves and darker fruit. The chokecherry leaf has a finely serrated margin and is dark green above with a paler underside, while the black cherry leaf has numerous blunt edges along its margin and is dark green and smooth.
II. How to Grow and Care
Sunlight
Full sun exposure encourages more fruit production. However, the chokecherry is shade tolerant and can be grown in partially shaded areas.
Temperature and Humidity
This plant is both cold- and heat-tolerant and can be grown in USDA zones 2 to 7. These hardy plants can be grown in a wide range of climates and conditions.
Watering
A newly planted Common chokecherry tree will need consistently moist soil for its first year or two. After establishment, these trees are extremely drought tolerant and will only need watering during dry spells. Avoid watering the canopy of the tree and supply it with water at the base of its trunk.
Soil
Moist soil is ideal for chokecherries, but this plant is not picky about its soil conditions. The chokecherry can be found growing in loamy, sandy, and clay soil and can tolerate slightly acidic to slightly alkaline soil pH.
Fertilizing
Most common chokecherry trees will not need to be fertilized. However, if the growth is particularly slow (less than 25 cm a year), that may be a good time to fertilize. In the spring, applying a balanced fertilizer directly to the soil around the tree should be helpful to most trees.
Pruning
Proper pruning will ensure that the chokecherry does not become unproductive or unmanageable. It is best to prune in the late winter or early spring. The chokecherry can be pruned into a shrub or a tree.
To train a chokecherry into a tree, prune away branches near the center of the trunk to enable adequate airflow. Remove any low-growing branches.
If you’re looking for a smaller, shrub-like plant, prune away one-third of the old growth. This encourages new, productive growth while maintaining the size and shape of the shrub.
Propagation
Propagating chokecherries can easily be done by means of cuttings:
- Using clean, sharp snips, cut away a stem around 6 inches long. Trim the cutting at a slanted angle.
- Trim away the bottom set of leaves.
- Dip the cut end into rooting hormone and place the cutting into moist potting soil or peat moss.
- Keep the cutting in a bright, warm location until established.
- Transplant to an outdoor location or container.
How to Grow from Seed
Growing a chokecherry from seed requires patience but is simple to accomplish:
- Chokecherry seeds must go through cold stratification before germinating. Place the seeds in the refrigerator for three months to achieve this.
- After this, plant the seeds in the spring in moist, rich soil. They can be planted either in a pot or in the garden.
- Keep the soil consistently moist with regular watering.
Potting and Repotting
The chokecherry can be grown into a tree or kept in containers and maintained as a smaller shrub. Because they are not particular about the type of soil used, average potting soil usually makes a good option. Add compost or fertilize periodically to give the potted plant the nutrients it needs.
Keep potted chokecherry plants in a sunny location with enough room to branch out and grow. Be sure to water regularly, as a potted plant does not have access to underground water sources. When the chokecherry fills the pot and has no room to grow, it is time to repot. Gently tip the chokecherry onto its side and loosen the roots from the pot. Place the plant in a slightly larger pot and fill it with fresh soil. Water generously.
Overwintering
Because the chokecherry is very cold tolerant, there is not much required to overwinter this plant. Adding a thick layer of mulch in the fall can help insulate the roots and protect them from the cold. For potted chokecherries, it is best to move the plant to an area that is somewhat protected from the cold, such as in a garage. You can also create an insulation layer around the pot by encircling the pot in chicken wire and filling in the open space with mulch or hay.
Pests and Diseases
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Common pests that attack the chokecherry tree include the prairie tent caterpillar, eastern tent caterpillar, and aphids.
The tree is susceptible to X-disease (also known as cherry buckskin disease), a bacterial disease spread by leafhoppers, which causes purple holes in the leaves and deforms the fruit.
Other diseases that afflict this tree include honey fungus, black knot, and canker fungus.
Common Problems
Although this tree is forgiving of many conditions, it can still present a couple of issues. Look for these problems:
Suckering
Native chokecherry trees have suckering traits, which means they can grow out of control fairly fast. However, they also produce larger fruit and blooms.4
Weak Branches
The branches are weak and can become damaged, often breaking during ice storms.
III. Uses and Benefits
- Ornamental uses
Common chokecherry is a popular ornamental plant that offers plenty of appeal with its abundant sprays of white flowers followed by bright red berries. This tall-growing shrub makes a good border plant and addition to native plant gardens. The plant thrives in part shade, so it does well when planted near oaks, aspens, and cottonwoods.
- Other uses
For many Native American tribes of the Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, and boreal forest region of Canada and the United States, chokecherries are the most important fruit in their traditional diets and are part of pemmican, a staple traditional food. The bark of chokecherry root is made into an asperous-textured concoction used to ward off or treat colds, fever and stomach maladies by Native Americans. The inner bark of the chokecherry, as well as red osier dogwood, or alder, is also used by some tribes in ceremonial smoking mixtures, known as kinnikinnick.
The chokecherry fruit can be eaten when fully ripe, but otherwise contains a toxin. The fruit can be used to make jam or syrup, but the bitter nature of the fruit requires sugar to sweeten the preserves. The Plains Indians pound up the whole fruits—including the toxic pits—in a mortar, from which they made sun-baked cakes.
Chokecherry is also used to craft wine in the Western United States, mainly in the Dakotas and Utah, as well as in Manitoba, Canada.
Find Where to Buy the Best Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
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