Pocket BotanistPlant guide
Chokecherry.
Prunus virginiana
Pronounced PROO-nus vir-jin-ee-AY-nuh
Also known as Bitter-berry, Chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, Virginia chokecherry, common chokecherry, eastern chokecherry, red chokecherry
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The chokecherry is a hardy, deciduous shrub or small tree native to North America. It produces beautiful white flower spikes in spring that turn into dark, astringent berries. It is a fantastic choice for supporting local birds and pollinators in your garden.
At a glance
- Care level
- Easy
- Plant type
- Deciduous shrub or small tree
- Light
- Full sun to partial shade
- Indoor light
- Direct sun
- Water
- Every 7 to 14 days
- Mature size
- 20 to 30 feet
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Hardiness
- USDA 2 to 7
- Bloom time
- Mid to late spring
Care
Plant this shrub in a sunny spot with well draining soil to keep it happy. Watch for signs of black knot fungus on the branches and prune away any affected areas immediately. It is quite drought tolerant once established, but keep an eye on it during extreme heat.
- Watering
- Water deeply during the first few years until the root system is established.
- Feeding
- Apply a balanced fertilizer once in early spring before new growth begins.
- Pruning
- Prune in late winter while the plant is dormant to shape it and remove dead wood.
- Repotting
- If kept in a container, move to a larger pot every few years to accommodate root growth.
- Soil
- Well draining loam or sandy soil
- Soil pH
- 6.0 to 8.0
- Temperature
- -40 to 35°C
- Humidity
- 40 to 70%
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- Perennial, typically 20 to 50 years
- Fragrance
- Light
- Deer and rabbits
- Low
Signs it needs repotting
- Roots growing out of the drainage holes.
- Water running straight through the pot without soaking in.
Safety
- People
- All parts of the plant, especially the leaves and pits, contain cyanogenic glycosides that can be toxic if ingested.
- Pets
- The leaves, stems, and seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which are toxic to cats and dogs if ingested.
- Children
- Keep children away from the pits of the fruit, as they pose a choking hazard and contain toxic compounds.
- Contact allergens
- The bark and foliage may cause mild skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
- Airborne allergens
- The pollen can trigger seasonal allergies in some people.
- Edibility
- The pits of the fruit contain cyanide-producing compounds and should not be consumed.
How to identify it
- Oval leaves with serrated edges
- Long drooping clusters of white flowers
- Dark red to black edible berries
- Smooth gray bark on young stems
- Height
- 3 to 9m
- Spread
- 2 to 6m
- Leaves
- green, dark green, deciduous
- Flowers
- white, 0.5 to 1cm
- Fruit
- red, dark purple, black, Late summer
Problems to watch for
- Black Knot · A fungal infection causing black, warty growths on branches.
- Tent Caterpillars · Larvae that build silken nests and defoliate branches.
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Growing it
- Propagation
- seed, cuttings, suckers
- When to plant
- spring, autumn
- Overwintering
- No special care is needed as it is extremely cold hardy. Ensure the soil is well drained to prevent root issues during spring thaw.
- In containers
- Not ideal for containers due to its size and tendency to sucker, but can be kept in very large tubs for a few years.
Seed
- Clean the pulp from the seeds.
- Cold stratify seeds in the refrigerator for 90 days.
- Plant in pots in early spring.
Suckers
- Locate a small sucker away from the main trunk.
- Dig carefully to include some roots.
- Transplant to a new location in early spring.
Plant in groups to create a natural thicket that provides excellent cover for local bird populations.
Grows well with
- Serviceberry · They share similar soil and light requirements in woodland edge settings.
- Wild Plum · These species naturally occur together in thickets and support similar pollinators.
Similar species
- Black Cherry · It is a larger tree with similar white flower spikes and dark fruit.
Science
- Family
- Rosaceae
- Genus
- Prunus
- Order
- Rosales
- Class
- Magnoliopsida
- Native range
- Across much of North America from Canada to the southern United States.
- Conservation
- Not of conservation concern.
It thrives in forest edges and thickets, often colonizing disturbed areas through its suckering habit.
- Value to wildlife
- nectar source, larval host plant, bird food source
- Pollinators
- bees, butterflies
- Uses
- ornamental shrub, wildlife habitat, jams and jellies
Through the year
Ecological indicators
- Salinity
- 2/9
- Soil reaction
- 6/9
- Light
- 7/9
- Temperature
- 4/9
- Moisture
- 5/9
- Nutrients
- 5/9
Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.
Questions people ask
- Can I eat the fruit raw?
- Yes, but the flavor is very astringent and tart, so it is usually cooked with sugar.
- Does it spread?
- Yes, it produces suckers and can form thickets over time.
Where the name comes from
Prunus is the Latin name for plum, while virginiana refers to the Virginia colony where it was first described.
Good to know
- The name chokecherry comes from the astringent, puckering taste of the raw fruit.
- Native American tribes traditionally dried the fruit for winter use in pemmican.
- It is the state fruit of North Dakota.
Also in
Keep your chokecherry growing
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This guide was generated with AI on and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.