Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Chokecherry produces long dangling clusters of small dark fruit so astringent they "choke" anyone who bites straight into one raw — yet cooked into syrup and jelly, they've long been a favorite. Its ability to sucker into dense thickets makes it a fast colonizer of open ground.
Where found
Streambanks, forest edges, and open disturbed ground throughout the interior Pacific Northwest.
Fun facts
- Raw fruit is intensely astringent — the source of its common name.
- Ripe fruit was traditionally pounded, pits and all, into dried cakes such as pemmican.
- Spreads readily by root suckers, forming dense thickets.
Specs
| Height | 3–8 m (occasionally to 12 m) |
|---|---|
| Spread | 3–6 m |
| Lifespan | 20–40 yrs |
| Growth Rate | Fast |
| Sun | Full sun |
| Native Range | Across most of North America, throughout the interior Pacific Northwest |
