Prunus virginiana

Prunus virginiana (Rosaceae) is a deciduous shrub or small tree native across much of North America from Newfoundland to British Columbia and south to Kansas and North Carolina. It grows 20 to 40 feet tall, forming thickets via root suckers. Dense, cylindrical racemes of small white flowers appear in late spring, followed by small, dark red to black fruit.

Chokecherry grows in full sun to part shade on a wide range of soils. The fruit is extremely astringent when raw but is traditional for jellies, syrups, and wine. It is an important wildlife food plant. The cultivar 'Canada Red' (Schubert) has purple foliage. Black knot disease and tent caterpillars are common problems. All parts except ripe fruit flesh contain cyanogenic glycosides. Hardy in Zones 3a to 8b.