COMMON CHOKECHERRY
Prunus virginiana

Height: 15-25'
Width: 10-20'
Hardiness Zone: 2
Exposure: sun or partial shade
Origin: United States and Canada

Description:

Common Chokecherry is a small tree or large, multi-trunked shrub. It has an oval to rounded form and a somewhat irregular branching pattern. It tends to develop many suckers at the base. The foliage is medium green. Common Chokecherry blooms in spring, producing numerous bottlebrush-like racemes of white flowers. The 1/3” diameter fruits turn red then dark purple and are eaten by birds. The fruit is useful for making an attractive flavorful tart jelly. While the species is sometimes used for naturalized plantings, the red-leafed Canada Red Chokecherry cultivars listed below are much more commonly used for commercial and residential landscaping.

Site and Cultural Requirements:

Common Chokecherry and cultivars tolerates a range of soil types as long as the soil is well drained. They will not tolerate wet soils. Suckers must be pruned off frequently to maintain a single-trunked tree form. The red-leafed forms should be planted in full sun for the best foliage color.

Insect/Disease Issues:

Black knot, a fungal disease that causes lumpy black swellings along stems, can be a major problem on Common Chokecherry. Diseased branches should be pruned out and disposed of to reduce spread. Several leaf chewing insects may cause leaf damage.

Cultivars:

‘Schubert’ – also known as Canada Red Chokecherry; foliage emerges green, then turns deep maroon for the summer, and reddish purple in fall.
‘Schubert Select’ -also known as Canada Red Select Chokecherry; very similar to ‘Schubert’ but with thicker leaves and more vigorous growth.
var. melanocarpa – shrubby form native to the Rocky Mountains.

We would like to thank the Landscape Plant Development Center and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum for the botanical information and photos.

Open 9:00 AM until Sunset
Closed Mondays, open holidays
Phone: (515)-992-4211
Email: info@thebrentonarboretum.org