# chokecherry (*Prunus virginiana*) Chokecherries are small, dark red or black berries that grow on bushes. They are often found in woods and along roadsides, and they can be used to make yummy jams and jellies! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 26 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Choke Cherry ![chokecherry](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Prunus_virginiana_flowers.jpg&width=800) Photo: Nadiatalent, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Prunus_virginiana_flowers.jpg) ## Appearance The chokecherry is a large shrub or small tree with rough, dark bark and oval leaves that turn yellow or red in fall. It produces long, drooping clusters of tiny white flowers in spring, followed by hanging bunches of small, dark red to black berries. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Rosales - **Family:** Rosaceae - **Genus:** Prunus ## Interesting facts - Its seeds contain a hidden chemical defense, making them unsafe to eat! - Native Americans traditionally dried chokecherry fruit into cakes for winter food! - The fruit is so tart it can make your mouth pucker, giving it its name! - You might spot tiny glands on the leaves where they meet the stem! ## Special abilities - **Toxic Shield:** Chokecherry has toxic compounds in its leaves and seeds that help it defend against hungry plant-eaters. - **Rapid Reclaimer:** Chokecherry can quickly grow in disturbed areas, helping it establish new habitats after fires or clearings. - **Berry Broadcast:** Chokecherry has juicy, tart fruits that attract birds and mammals, helping it spread its seeds far and wide. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 100-600 cm - **Spread:** 100-400 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — eats its ripe fruits, aiding in seed dispersal. - **Eats:** American Black Bear (*Ursus americanus*) — enjoys the abundant, tart chokecherries in late summer. - **Eats:** [White-tailed Deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browses on young leaves and twigs, despite mild toxicity. - **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — visits its fragrant spring flowers for nectar and pollen. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Chokecherries can be sour and should be eaten in small amounts. Always ask an adult before trying new berries! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify chokecherry? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is chokecherry? 100-600 cm ### How wide does chokecherry spread? 100-400 cm ### How big are the flowers on chokecherry? 0.5-1 cm ### When does chokecherry bloom? Spring ### Is chokecherry edible? Yes ### Is chokecherry toxic? Moderate ### What is chokecherry's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Illinois Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/illinois-street-historic-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District - [Jackson Lake Lodge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jackson-lake-lodge) — Wyoming, US · Historic Site - [Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservatory](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mitchell-park-horticultural-conservatory) — Wisconsin, US · Botanical Garden - [Mormon Row Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mormon-row-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District - [North Entrance Road Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/north-entrance-road-historic-district) — Wyoming, US · Historic District [View all places to see chokecherry](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/chokecherry) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Chokecherry: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chokecherry)