Cherries – The Eastern Chokecherry

The first thing people ask about this small, native, deciduous tree is why the name ‘ chokecherry ‘? The common names of bird cherry, bitter cherry, and chokecherry refer to the glossy red berries appearing from August to September. Let me tell you, the berries are super astringent and the absolute sourness causes a gag reflex. But birds and wildlife love them. In fact, up to 24 species of birds such as vireos, tanagers, robins, thrushes, flycatchers, and kingbirds feast on the very nutritious fruit. The berries have a high content of fat, up to 35% fat, which fattens birds for their upcoming migratory flights or for the upcoming winter months.

The Rocky Mountains have created a physical barrier to the chokecherry where there are now 2 different varieties. The western chokecherry (Prunus var. demissa) resides west of the Rockies and the eastern chokecherry (Prunus var. virginiana) dominates the Canadian landscape east of the Rockies.

If you want to plant a native shrub to make an ecological impact, then the eastern chokecherry is your choice. From April to May lovely, white flowers appear in long racemes that are fragrant and remind me of almonds. Because of the very early flowering time, it is listed as having ‘ special value to native bees ‘. Early emergent pollinators derive much needed nectar and pollen. In fact, the cherry family is listed in the top 10 pollinator plants for Ontario.

The leaves are larval sources for many moths such as cecropria, promeathea, polyphemus, and hummingbird clearwing. Some caterpillars such as red spotted purple, spring azure, tiger swallowtail, and coral hairstreaks also much on the leaves.

The eastern chokecherry has immense ecological value due to its adaptability and growth habits. Due to its suckering growth habit, it is a great candidate for riparian plantings and stabilizing river banks. They are used extensively in plantings of shelter belts and windbreaks for erosion control. Since it is so adaptable to many types of soils, it has been used for land rehabilitation from abandoned construction sites to grasslands. Additionally, they provide cover and nesting habitat for a variety of birds.

Thinking you might have room to plant eastern chokecherry? They attain heights of 20 – 30 feet and widths of 10 – 20 feet. For maximum berry production plant in a full sun location. However, they can adapt to partially shady places. A well drained site is needed since they will not thrive in areas that are flooded annually. Once established they are drought resistant. And you get all this ecological value quickly. Their growth rates are fast.

So why not consider planting eastern chokecherry?