Prunus virginiana (Common chokecherry)

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:

Prunus virginiana on Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods

Prunus virginiana on Wikipedia

Prunus virginiana at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Prunus virginiana on Plants for a Future, a resource and information centre for edible and otherwise useful plants

Prunus virginiana on

Prunus virginiana on Montana Plant Life

Prunus virginiana at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Prunus virginiana on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Prunus virginiana on CalPhotos

5/16/2010 · By Constance B. Kent

5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 4½" (13 × 11 cm)

5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4½" (15 × 11 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" (16 × 11 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 6" (10 × 15 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 6" (12 × 16 cm)

Prunus virginiana description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 17 Aug 2021.

7/20/2012 · J. Harry Rich Dirt Road, Groton, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4" (15 × 10 cm)

6/29/2006 · By Sheri Hagwood @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

5/27/2014 · Dunstable Rural Land Trust, Dunstable, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

8/13/2017 · Burges Pond, Westford, Massachusetts
≈ 10 × 7" (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
≈ 5 × 4" (13 × 10 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 × 15 cm)

5/28/2021 · Brunswick Commons, Brunswick, Maine
≈ 11 × 7" (28 × 18 cm)

Range:

About this map...