Western Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana var. demissa

Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native

Last updated

Prunus virginiana var. demissa (Rosaceae) is the western variety of chokecherry, native from British Columbia south to California and east to the Rocky Mountain states. It is similar to the species but typically smaller (15 to 25 feet) and adapted to drier conditions.

Western chokecherry grows in sun to part shade on well-drained soils from sea level to moderate elevations. It shares the suckering habit, wildlife value, and fruit characteristics of the species. Like the eastern form, it is susceptible to black knot disease. Hardy in Zones 3a to 8b.

Plant Profile

Size & Form

Height
7-12 ft

Site Requirements

Light
Full Sun to Part Shade
Hardiness
Zones 4a–8b

Ornamental Interest

Bloom Time
April to May
Origin
Pacific Northwest native
Watch for this season
Coryneum blight (Shothole)High

Primary Infection - Flowers and Young Leaves

Cytospora CankerHigh

Peak Spore Production and Dispersal

Powdery MildewHigh

Active Conidial Spread

RustHigh

Uredinial Stage (Summer)

+ 17 more — see full disease and pest lists below

Diseases: Regionally Documented (51)

Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole) Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Mottle leaf Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (bacterial canker complex) Dead Bud Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Armillaria spp. — primarily A Armillaria Root Rot Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Multiple Basidiomycete fungi cause wood decay in trees Wood Decay An uncharacterized Black Canker Cherry twisted leaf-associated virus Cherry Twisted Leaf Believed to Crinkle Leaf and Deep Suture Eola rasp Eola Rasp Leaf (Yellow Bud Mosaic) Although bacterial Fungal Cankers June Drop Grapevine leafroll virus Leafroll Uncharacterized graft Necrotic Rusty Mottle (Lambert Mottle) and Rusty Mottle Phytophthora spp. (P Phytophthora Root Rot Multiple fungal agents Pitting Many fungi Postharvest Rots Prune dwarf Prune Dwarf Cherry rasp Rasp Leaf Pythium spp., Phytophthora spp., Rhizoctonia spp., Fusari... Replant Disease This problem Rosette [VERIFY] (multiple possible causes) Rugose Several causes Stem Pitting Cherry leafroll virus (CLRV); complex with prune dwarf vi... Virus-induced Cherry Decline Raspberry bushy dwarf virus and related viruses Virus Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni X-Disease Taphrina deformans Leaf Curl Russeting Chrysomyxa piperiana Rusty Spot Split Pit Sprinkler Rot (Phytophthora Fruit Rot) Taphrina pruni Plum Pockets Multiple genera (Melampsoridium, Thekopsora, Naohidemyces... Rust Xiphinema americanum and related species Nematode, Dagger Mesocriconema spp Nematode, Ring Pratylenchus penetrans (primary) and P Nematode, Root-lesion Various plant-parasitic nematode genera Nematodes

Pests: Regionally Documented (31)

Data Maturity
Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.