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Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana

Light Requirements: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water Requirements: Dry, Moist, Seasonally Wet
Ease of Growing: Moderate
Growth Rate: Moderate
Spreads: Yes
Wildlife Support: Birds or Mammals
Fire Resistant: Yes
Edible: Yes
Mature Height: 12-40ft
Mature Width: 10-20ft

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a deciduous, thicket-forming shrub or small tree commonly found across much of the United States. Varieties native to Oregon include black (var. melanocarpa) and western (var. demissa) chokecherries.

This small, elegant tree can grow anywhere from 12-40 feet tall. It has dangling clusters of small, fragrant flowers in spring to mid summer. The leaves are oval, serrated, 2-4 inches long and pointed at the tip. The fruit is a ¼-½ inch cherry that starts red and becomes purple or black when ripe. Fall foliage is yellow.

Chokecherry is a very valuable tree for wildlife. Many butterflies rely on it for nectar, such as the pale swallowtail, silvery blue, spring azure, and painted lady. Lorquin’s admiral and spring azure butterflies lay their eggs on chokecherries.

Photo Credit(s): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_virginiana#/media/File:Prunus_virginiana_flowers.jpg

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