PSC 2620: Woody Trees and ShrubCourse HomeWeek 11

Prunus virginiana - Chokecherry

Plant Viewer
The leaf of the Chokecherry is 1-5 inches long and elliptic in shape, tapering to a point at the end. The margin is very finely serrated. White flowers emerge on racemes in the spring.
Sour 1/3 inch diameter fruits form in summer. The bark is gray-brown and smooth, with prominent horizontal lenticels.

Plant Description

Prunus virginiana, or Chokecherry, is a small flowering and fruiting tree, growing 20-30 feet high and 15-25 feet wide. It may natively occur as a large shrub or multi stem tree, but the tree form is readily available in commerce across the western United States. The canopy of the tree is open and airy until it is quite mature, when it finally fills in densely. The bark is a gray-brown color and has prominent horizontal lenticels. The color of the bark darkens and becomes furrowed as it matures.

The tree is quite a color changer, seemingly constantly changing color from spring through summer. In the spring, long racemes of white flowers (similar in form to a bottle-brush) cover the tree. Each small flower is only 1/4 inch wide and have 5 petals. Green leaves begin to emerge during the flowering period. On the most popular cultivar, Canada Red, the leaves turn a dark purple color by summer time, while new growth continues to emerge green before turning purple. Finally, in the fall the leaves turn a bright orange color.

Each leaf is 1 - 5 inches long and and elliptic or obovate in shape, with an acuminate tip. The margin of the leaf is finely serrated, and the veins are arranged in a pinnate pattern. During the summer, the tree produces large quantities of small, purplish-black fruit, 1/3 inch in diameter. The fruit is sour, but is popular for use in jams, jellies and syrups. Typically the birds will pick a tree clean before fall.

By summer, the 2 inch chestnuts begin to form on the tree, encased in a green, spiky capsule. In the fall, the capsule turns brown and splits open to release the hard, reddish-brown seed. Th spent seed capsules become messy once they fall on the ground.

Landscape Use

Use as an accent tree for its multi-season interest, or in massings. Its low branching habit makes it less-suited for use as a parking strip tree.

Points of Interest

Suckering at the base of the tree can be a problem if it is in tree form.

Notable Cultivars

Canada Red
The most popular variety, it grows 20-25 feet tall with purple foliage throughout most of the summer. New foliage emerges green.