Alphabetical Plant Listing

Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)

Chokecherry, American Chokecherry, Virginian Bird Cherry


Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry) is a suckering small tree or large shrub adorned with an irregular, oval-rounded crown clothed in elliptic, sharply toothed leaves. Dark green above and gray-green beneath, they turn brilliant golden-yellow and orange in the fall. In mid-spring, a profusion of fragrant, cup-shaped, white flowers held in elongated clusters, up to 6 in. long (15 cm), smother the bare branches and create a terrific floral display. The blossoms give way to clusters of rounded, pea-sized, red berries that ripen to dark purple-black in late summer. Attractive to birds and other wildlife, the berries are tart when raw but can be harvested for processing into jams, jellies, pies, and sauces.

  • Grows up to 20-30 ft. tall (6-9 m) and 15-20 ft. wide (4-6 m). Will sucker to form colonies in the wild.
  • Performs best in full sun or part shade in dry to medium, well-drained soils. Best flower production is obtained in full sun. Drought tolerant. Tolerates high pH and clay soils.
  • Perfect choice for shrub borders, open woodland gardens, or native plant areas.
  • Susceptible to aphids, caterpillars, Japanese beetles, spider mites, black knot, leaf spot, die back, leaf curl, powdery mildew, root rot, and fireblight.
  • Promptly remove suckers to prevent any undesired spread.
  • This plant has low severity poison characteristics. Stems, leaves, and seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting.
  • Toxic to dogs, toxic to cats, toxic to horses.
  • Native from Newfoundland to Saskatchewan south to North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Kansas.

Not sure which Prunus - Flowering Trees to pick?
Compare All Prunus - Flowering Trees

Buy Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)

Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 10, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Prunus - Flowering Trees
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 20' – 30' (6m – 9m)
Spread 15' – 20' (4.5m – 6m)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, California, Southeast, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden

Buy Plants

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Prunus - Flowering Trees

Guides with Prunus - Flowering Trees


Nick Pecker, Pierre Williot, Shutterstock

While every effort has been made to describe these plants accurately, please keep in mind that height, bloom time, and color may differ in various climates. The description of these plants has been written based on numerous outside resources.


Requirements

Hardiness 2 – 7
Heat Zones 1 – 8
Climate Zones 1, 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 2B, 3, 3A, 3B, 10, A1, A2, A3
Plant Type Shrubs, Trees
Plant Family Prunus - Flowering Trees
Exposure Full Sun, Partial Sun
Season of Interest Spring (Mid,Late)
Summer (Late)
Fall
Height 20' – 30' (6m – 9m)
Spread 15' – 20' (4.5m – 6m)
Water Needs Low, Average
Maintenance Average
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pH Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil Drainage Well-Drained
Characteristics Fragrant, Showy, Fruit & Berries
Native Plants United States, California, Southeast, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Southwest, Texas
Tolerance Drought, Dry Soil, Rocky Soil
Attracts Birds, Butterflies
Garden Uses Beds and Borders, Hedges and Screens
Garden Styles Informal and Cottage, Japanese Garden, Traditional Garden

Great Plant Combination Ideas with Prunus - Flowering Trees

Guides with Prunus - Flowering Trees

Plant Calculator

How many Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry) do I need for my garden?

%
ft
ft

Your Shopping List

Plant Quantity
Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)

Find your Hardiness Zone

Find your Climate Zone

Find your Heat Zone

Join Gardenia.net

Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.

Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.

Join now and start creating your dream garden!

Create a New Collection

Optional. For your reference.


Move Selected Plants to a Different Collection


Delete Collection

This field is required.

Rename Collection

This field is required.