Description
This plant is restricted for shipment to CA, ID, WA, OR, or Canada.
Latin Name: Prunus virginiana
Other Common Names: Common Chokecherry, Cabinet Cherry, Virginia Bird Cherry
Hardiness Zones: 2-7
Mature Size: The Choke Cherry Tree typically reaches a height of 20-30 ft (6-9 m) with an irregular oval crown shape. It can also grow as a shrub, which is shorter in stature (Missouri Botanical Garden). This tree is known for its relatively fast growth rate.
Preferred Soil and Climate: Choke Cherry thrives in average soil with moderate moisture levels, preferring well-drained conditions in full sun to part shade. Flowers bloom best when the tree receives full sunlight (Missouri Botanical Garden).
Additional Notes: Suckers often grow from the roots and should be removed if a colony is undesired. In spring, the tree bears showy white flowers in long clusters, each flower approximately ½ in (1 cm) wide with five cup-shaped lobes. These flowers develop into small clusters of dark purple berries, maturing in late summer. While technically edible, the berries are not recommended due to their astringent taste, causing throat constriction as the name suggests. However, they can be used in pies, jams, jellies, and sauces. The leaves are obovate to elliptic, up to 5 in (13 cm) long, dark green on top, and gray-green underneath, with serrated edges. In fall, the leaves turn yellow to orange (Missouri Botanical Garden). The bark starts as smooth gray-brown and becomes more fissured with age. Young stems have thin peeling layers (Virginia Tech).
Common Issues: Choke Cherry trees are susceptible to several problems including dieback, fire blight, black knot, root rot, leaf spot, powdery mildew, and leaf curl. They are also prone to infestations by caterpillars, aphids, Japanese beetles, borers, tent caterpillars, leafhoppers, spider mites, and scale insects (Missouri Botanical Garden).
Wildlife: The fruit of Choke Cherry is consumed by various birds including mallards, turkeys, ruffed grouse, bobwhite quail, pheasants, and many woodpecker species, among others (Missouri Botanical Garden).
Cold Stream Farm supplies Choke Cherry trees which are grown as bare root seedlings and transplants and sold both wholesale and retail with no minimum order.
Sources:
- Virginia Tech: Choke Cherry
- Missouri Botanical Garden: Prunus virginiana
Norm….. –
Purchased 7 of the bareroot 6-12″ stock late spring. They are doing absolutely amazingly well. All 7 are leafing out and growing strong. They came in a cardboard box with the stem tied to a stiff inner cardboard insert and the bare roots packed in wet saw dust / plastic bag.
Would recommend Cold Stream Farms to anyone looking for a nursery to purchase online from.
duane hulst –
All 10 look good with small green buds. If you are looking to make jelly buy these not Chokeberries. There is a big difference.
J –
Getting big, I definitely recommend Cold stream farms!