Common Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana

Rosaceae · broadleaf deciduous shrub · native

Last updated

Data Maturity Structured

This profile synthesizes data from multiple published sources. Expert field review is in progress.

Quick Facts

Height
30 ft
Light
Full Sun to Part Shade
Hardiness
Zone Zones 2a–8b
Bloom Time
April to May
Origin
over much of eastern North America

Phenological Calendar

As of April 23, 2026, Puget Sound stations range from 1434.4 to 1592.7 GDD₃₂. Common Chokecherry has reached 'leaf emergence' (1135 GDD₃₂) and is approaching 'first bloom', predicted around Apr 25.

Regional Season Tracker

GDD₃₂ accumulation across 7 Puget Sound stations · as of Apr 23, 2026
Station GDD₃₂ Current Stage Next To Go
Issaquah / East King 1,593 'First bloom' 'Fall color / leaf senescence' 1,731
Seattle / UW 1,554 'Leaf emergence' 'First bloom' 6
Kent / Auburn 1,537 'Leaf emergence' 'First bloom' 23
Olympia / Tumwater 1,505 'Leaf emergence' 'First bloom' 56
Bellingham / Whatcom 1,483 'Leaf emergence' 'First bloom' 77
Tacoma / Puyallup 1,472 'Leaf emergence' 'First bloom' 88
Sequim / Rain Shadow 1,434 'Leaf emergence' 'First bloom' 126
Stage GDD32 Typical Window
'Bud break' BBCH '07' 809 ''
'Flower buds visible' BBCH '51' 1102 ''
● 'Leaf emergence' BBCH '11' NOW 1135 ''
○ 'First bloom' BBCH '61' NEXT 1560 '' est. Apr 25 (forecast)
'Fall color / leaf senescence' BBCH '93' 3324 '' est. Jul 2 (avg)
Local estimate
Range: 1049–1930 GDD₃₂ (11yr) · 63 obs

GDD = Growing Degree Days (base 32°F, Jan 1 start). Why base 32? GDD₃₂ thresholds from USA National Phenology Network citizen science observations (WA+OR). Season tracker for Kent / Auburn as of Apr 23, 2026. Predicted dates use 16-day weather forecast through May 9, 2026, then climate normals.

Diseases (58)

Taphrina wiesneri Witches'-broom (Cherry leaf curl) Verticillium dahliae Verticillium Wilt Stigmina carpophila Shothole (Coryneum Blight) Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Multiple obligate biotrophic fungi (Erysiphales: Erysipha... Powdery Mildew Necrotic rusty mottle virus (uncharacterized) Necrotic rusty mottle Cherry mottle leaf virus Mottle leaf Little cherry virus-1 and Little cherry virus-2 Little Cherry Symptom category — not a single disease Leaf Spot Non-pathogenic (physiological response to injury/stress) Gumming (Gummosis) Abiotic or frost injury Dead Bud Cytospora spp. (Valsa spp., Leucostoma spp.) Cytospora Canker Rhizobium radiobacter (formerly Agrobacterium tumefaciens) Crown Gall The fungi Brown Rot Blossom Blight and Fruit Rot Apiosporina morbosa Black Knot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker Armillaria ostoyae Armillaria Root Rot Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae Bacterial Canker and Blast Monilinia fructicola and M Brown Rot Plum pox virus (PPV) Plum Pox (Sharka) Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni [VERIFY] Red Spot Fruit Blemish (Freckles) Stigmina carpophila or Diaporthe spp. Shothole Chondrostereum purpureum Silver Leaf Limb and Wood Decay Armillaria mellea Armillaria Crown and Root Rot An uncharacterized Black Canker Cherry mottle leaf virus Cherry Mottle Leaf 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 Mechanical injury Gumming The normal 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 Prune dwarf Sour Cherry Yellows 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 Taphrina wiesneri Witches' Broom Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni X-Disease Taphrina deformans Leaf Curl Non-pathogenic (physiological disorder — epidermal cell d... Russeting Chrysomyxa piperiana Rusty Spot Environmental/temperature stress Split Pit Phytophthora spp Sprinkler Rot (Phytophthora Fruit Rot) Blueberry mosaic virus and related viruses Virus Diseases Taphrina pruni Plum Pockets Thekopsora minima and Naohidemyces vaccinii Rust Wilsonomyces carpophilus Coryneum blight (Shothole)

Pests (40)