Nature Canada Preservation Conservation Endangered Species Canada

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75 Albert St, Suite 300
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 5E7, Canada
Phone: 1-800-267-4088
or 613-562-3447
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To protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in Canada by engaging people and advocating on behalf of nature.

PlantWatch

What is PlantWatch?	How to PlantWatch
PlantWatch Identification Guide - English download	PlantWatch Identification Guide - French download
PlantWatch Tips	PlantWatch Glossary
PlantWatch Species	Submit Your Observations

Choke cherry (Prunus virginiana)


Photo by Derek Johnson

French name: cerisier à grappes
Bloom time: May to June
Report for: AB

General: Choke cherry can be found as a bush or small tree, generally 2-4 m tall, but sometimes reaching up to 10 m tall.

Leaves & Twigs: Choke cherry has pointed leaves with sharply toothed edges. Their shape — widest above the middle of the leaf with a short pointed tip — distinguishes the plant from pin cherry, whose leaves are widest below the middle and taper gradually to a point.

Flowers & Fruit: Flowers are white, 1-1.5 cm across, and hang in dense elongated clusters up to 15 cm long. Berries are red, ripening to bluish-black.

Habitat: The choke cherry prefers to grow in aspen poplar groves, ravines and the edges of creeks.

PlantWatch Pointers

Sampling: Tag a typical shrub for observation.

To Observe:

First bloom: when the first flowers are open on the observed shrub (three places).
Mid bloom when 50% of the flowers are open on the observed shrub.

Choke cherry sticks were used by Aboriginal Peoples for roasting game, because the wood did not burn easily and the resulting smokiness added spice to the meat.