Prunus virginiana L.
Common chokecherry, chokecherry
Kingdom Plantae Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom Tracheobionta Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division Magnoliophyta Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class Magnoliopsida Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass Rosidae Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order Rosales Rose family and eight others
Family Rosaceae Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus Prunus Includes plums, cherries, peaches, apricots, and almonds
Species virginiana “From Virginia”
About plant names...
Chokecherries are widespread natives of North America.
Identification: Chokecherries are small trees up to
about 18′ (5.5 m) high, with white flowers and profuse berries that may be bright red or black.
Don't confuse chokecherries with chokeberries :
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (17 × 11 cm)
8/5/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, East Pepperell, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (11 × 17 cm)
Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’
You are here Prunus virginiana
Common Name
red chokeberry
common chokecherry
Plant
6-15′ (1.8-4.6 m) high
A large shrub or small tree up to 18′ (5.5 m) high
Flowers
Bunches ("racemes") of 15-30 white flowers, each about ½″ (1.3 cm) in size
Leaves
Leaves turn deep ruby red in fall.
Fine serrations, dark above and pale green underneath
Fruit
Red, about ¼-⅜″ (6.3-9.5 mm) in diameter, very sour
Bright red to dark red or black, ¼-⅝″ (6.3-15 mm) in diameter, extremely sour
Range/ Zones
USDA Zones: 4-9
Habitats
Moist woods; stream banks; prairie hillsides; fence rows; rocky bluffs; roadsides
Type
Cultivar
Wild
From the USDA Plants Database.
Online References:
Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ...
The Natural History of the Northwoods
Wikipedia
The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants
Montana Plant Life
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database
CalPhotos
5/16/2010 · By Constance B. Kent
5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
5/21/2013 · Beaver Brook Assn Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)
5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
4/25/2012 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 7 × 11″ (18 × 28 cm)
5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 15 cm)
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm)
5/28/2023 · Giant’s Stairs, Bailey Island, Maine
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
Prunus virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Oct 2023.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.
6/29/2006 · By Sheri Hagwood @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine
5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts · ≈ 10 × 6″ (24 × 16 cm)
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 9″ (15 × 23 cm)
6/1/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 5 × 8″ (13 × 19 cm)
7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 6 × 4″ (15 × 10 cm)
8/24/2023 · Morse Mountain, Phippsburg, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)
6/26/2010 · Nashua River Rail Trail, Groton Center, Groton, Massachusetts · ≈ 14 × 9″ (35 × 23 cm)
7/22/2021 · Mitchell Field, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 4 × 6″ (10 × 16 cm)
5/28/2021 · Brunswick Commons, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 11 × 7″ (28 × 18 cm)
6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine
Range:
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