Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana L., Minnesota Native Plants, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden

(Common Chokecherry, Virginia Chokecherry). The common Chokecherry is a large native shrub that in Minnesota grows to a height of 20 feet. The flowers are 5-parted, white, 1/4 to 3/8" in diameter and occur in a dense 3 to 6" long cylindrical raceme which may droop downward and grows at the end of new twig growth. The flowers may appear before the leaves are fully formed. The alternate leaves are a glossy dark green above turning duller as the season progresses, paler underneath, sometimes with fine hair, and are oval in shape, up to 4" long 2" wide and without hair on the upper side. Leaf edges are serrate with closely spaced sharp teeth. The bark of larger stems is gray to reddish brown and with age turns darker and becomes furrowed. The flowers mature in late summer into round drupes, up to 1/3" in diameter, resembling miniature cherries, and which contain the toxic pit. Ripe fruit can be deep red to black. The plant grows from rhizomes which spread beyond the plant itself and lead to a suckering habit, forming thickets. Hazard: The seeds of the plant are toxic, as are the leaves and stems - all contain cyanic acid. Broken twigs will emit a bitter almond odor. The meat of the drupe is bitter but with the addition of sugar makes a fine jelly but the pits must be removed. Children are most sensitive to the toxin in the pits, leaves and stems. Browsing livestock are also susceptible. More details below. The drupes are very astringent, hence the common name of "choke" cherry.

Types: There are three varieties of the species: var. melanocarpa produces black fruit, var. virginiana produces crimson to deep red fruit, and var. demissa which produces dark red fruit. This last variety is a native of the west and has not done well at the MN Landscape Arboretum trials. A cultivar of var. melanocarpa known as P. virginiana 'Shubert' has done very well and has a leaf that turns from green to a bronzy-purple in late spring. Any of these varieties can be trained to grow as a small tree.

	Plants of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden
	Common Name	Scientific Name	Plant Family	Garden Location	Prime Season
	Chokecherry	Prunus virginiana L.	Rose (Rosaceae)	Woodland	Spring - Late May
Other names and notes	(Common Chokecherry, Virginia Chokecherry). The common Chokecherry is a large native shrub that in Minnesota grows to a height of 20 feet. The flowers are 5-parted, white, 1/4 to 3/8" in diameter and occur in a dense 3 to 6" long cylindrical raceme which may droop downward and grows at the end of new twig growth. The flowers may appear before the leaves are fully formed. The alternate leaves are a glossy dark green above turning duller as the season progresses, paler underneath, sometimes with fine hair, and are oval in shape, up to 4" long 2" wide and without hair on the upper side. Leaf edges are serrate with closely spaced sharp teeth. The bark of larger stems is gray to reddish brown and with age turns darker and becomes furrowed. The flowers mature in late summer into round drupes, up to 1/3" in diameter, resembling miniature cherries, and which contain the toxic pit. Ripe fruit can be deep red to black. The plant grows from rhizomes which spread beyond the plant itself and lead to a suckering habit, forming thickets. Hazard: The seeds of the plant are toxic, as are the leaves and stems - all contain cyanic acid. Broken twigs will emit a bitter almond odor. The meat of the drupe is bitter but with the addition of sugar makes a fine jelly but the pits must be removed. Children are most sensitive to the toxin in the pits, leaves and stems. Browsing livestock are also susceptible. More details below. The drupes are very astringent, hence the common name of "choke" cherry. Types: There are three varieties of the species: var. melanocarpa produces black fruit, var. virginiana produces crimson to deep red fruit, and var. demissa which produces dark red fruit. This last variety is a native of the west and has not done well at the MN Landscape Arboretum trials. A cultivar of var. melanocarpa known as P. virginiana 'Shubert' has done very well and has a leaf that turns from green to a bronzy-purple in late spring. Any of these varieties can be trained to grow as a small tree.