Keep the chokecherry's soil consistently moist, but never waterlogged, if planting in a greenhouse. Transfer the plant outdoors as soon as it's large enough to handle. Locales that receive 15 or more inches of annual rainfall will naturally cover the plant's watering needs.
Perennial
Zones 2-7
15-25 feet tall, 20 feet wide/ spread
Full Sun to Part Shade
Loamy, sandy, clay, moist soil
Medium to Moist Site
Blooms May/June, Fruits July/August/September
Approx. 20 seeds per pack
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) fruit lend themselves to jellies, pies, syrups, butters and wines. A low-maintenance plant, this double delight produces long, white flowers that turn into famous purple-black berries. Loved by both humans and wildlife, the chokecherry tree is often used as a windbreak, a source of food and shelter for native animals and birds and to beautify an area. The Chokecherry can be grown into a tree or kept in containers and maintained as a smaller shrub.
Chokecherry is also a great spring food source for pollinators.
Sustainably wild collected from Ontario seed zone SE4 or 26.
Growing Instructions
Cold/moist stratification required. Mix seeds with moist substrate (vermiculite, perlite or moss) and place in a plastic bag and refrigerate for 3 months. Plan this cooling period ahead of time so that you can plant the seeds in early spring.
Select well-drained, moist soil for your chokecherry seeds. This plant tolerates soil of light, medium or loamy consistency -- though it prefers the latter -- and acid, neutral or basic pH levels.
Bury the seeds about 1/2 inch deep at the start of the spring season. If planting outdoors in what will be the plant's final location, leave enough space to accommodate the plant's mature spread, which may reach 15 to 25 feet. Use small or medium-sized pots for greenhouse planting.
Location
Choose a location that receives full sunlight or dappled shade.
Pruning
Proper pruning will ensure that the chokecherry does not become unproductive or unmanageable. It is best to prune in the late winter or early spring. The chokecherry can be pruned into a shrub or a tree.
To train a chokecherry into a tree, prune away branches near the center of the trunk to enable adequate airflow. Remove any low-growing branches.
If you're looking for a smaller, shrub-like plant, prune away one-third of the old growth. This encourages new, productive growth while maintaining the size and shape of the shrub.