Common Chokecherry
'First bloom'Prunus virginiana var. virginiana
Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native
Last updated
Plant Profile
Size & Form
Height
30 ft
Site Requirements
Light
Full Sun to Part Shade
Hardiness
Zones 2a–8b
Ornamental Interest
Bloom Time
April to May
Origin
over much of eastern North America
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)
Drosophila suzukii Spotted-wing drosophila Tetranychidae Spider mite Scolytus rugulosus Shothole borer Diaspidiotus perniciosus San Jose scale Pear slug (Cherry slug) Synanthedon exitiosa Peachtree borer Tortricidae Leafroller Forficula auricularia Earwig Noctuidae Cutworms and Armyworms Cherry fruit fly Enarmonia formosana Cherry bark tortrix Myzus cerasi Black cherry aphid Choreutis pariana Apple-and-thorn skeletonizer Halyomorpha halys Brown marmorated stink bug Hyphantria cunea Fall webworm Anarsia lineatella Peach twig borer Aphidoidea Aphid Choristoneura rosaceana Obliquebanded Leafroller Otiorhynchus spp. Root weevil Edwardsiana rosae Rose leafhopper Malacosoma spp. Tent caterpillar Western red-humped caterpillar Cacoecimorpha pronubana Carnation tortrix Aculus cornutus Peach silver mite Parthenolecanium spp. Lecanium scale Phorodon humuli Hop aphid Brachycaudus helichrysi Leaf curl plum aphid Coccoidea Scale insect Chrysobothris mali Pacific flatheaded borer Archips argyrospila Fruittree leafroller Cicadellidae Leafhopper
Phenological Calendar
As of June 3, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 2435.5 to 2672.8 GDD₃₂. Common Chokecherry has reached 'first bloom' (1560 GDD₃₂) and is approaching 'fall color / leaf senescence', predicted around Jun 28.
Regional Season Tracker
GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Jun 3, 2026| Station | GDD₃₂ | Current Stage | Next | To Go |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issaquah / East King | 2,673 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 651 |
| Kent / Auburn | 2,665 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 659 |
| Seattle / UW | 2,610 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 714 |
| Olympia / Tumwater | 2,570 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 755 |
| Tacoma / Puyallup | 2,535 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 789 |
| Bellingham / Whatcom | 2,533 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 791 |
| Sequim / Rain Shadow | 2,436 | 'First bloom' | 'Fall color / leaf senescence' | 889 |
View full calendar (5 stages)
| Stage | GDD32 | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| 'Bud break' BBCH '07' | 809 | '' |
| 'Flower buds visible' BBCH '51' | 1102 | '' |
| 'Leaf emergence' BBCH '11' | 1135 | '' |
| ● 'First bloom' BBCH '61' NOW | 1560 | '' |
| ○ 'Fall color / leaf senescence' BBCH '93' NEXT | 3324 | '' est. Jun 28 (avg) |
Range: 1049–1930 GDD₃₂
(11yr) · 63 obs
Source: 'NPN citizen science observations (WA+OR), n=120, median. services.usanpn.org' About GDD₃₂ →
Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Jun 3, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through Jun 19, 2026, then climate normals.
Data Maturity Structured Multiple sources. Expert review underway.