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Common
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana L.
A native deciduous, thicket forming, pioneer
to mid seral species is characteristically fast
growing, tolerant of harsh climatic extremes
and occupies a variety of soil types (4). An
important species for wildlife and mine
restoration projects (2, 4). Horticultural
manipulation has allowed its’ cultivation as
an ornamental species (4). There are two
varieties of Prunus virginiana, according to
Hitchcock (1), var. melanocarpa and var.
demissa. Botanists are divided on accepting
the varieties or allowing them to exist as
distinct species (P. demissa and P.
melanocarpa). Common chokecherry is also
refered to as western chokecherry (var.
demissa) and black chokecherry (var.
melanocarpa).
SYN: P. virginiana var. demissa, P. v. var.
melanocarpa, P. demissa, and P. melanocarpa
Plant Characteristics
VEGETATIVE CHARACTERISTICS
Form and Stature: Often a widespread shrub
or small tree with numerous slender branches
attached to a crooked, smooth, dark reddish
brown or grayish brown trunk. Size varies
from 1-6 m (3-19.5 ft). In the Great Basin
this species can reach 12m (40 ft) with a trunk
diameter of 20 cm (8 in). (2, 6)
Leaves and Stems: Thin, broadly oval, 2.58.9 cm (1-3.5 in) long, firm but not leathery
leaves tapering at both ends with sharply
toothed edges; dull green above and greenish
below (1, 6). Varieties melanocarpa and
demissa have leaves that are glabrous with pubescence on the veins
and axis or beneath, respectively (1).
Inflorescence: Produces an abundance of attractive white saucer
shaped flowers, 5.1-10.2 cm (2-4 in) long and 1.3 cm (0.5 in) broad,
in long clusters resembling tiny bottle cleaners propped up by leafy
branchlets, characterized by a strong, sweet almond like fragrance
(2, 6, 7). Fruits, bore in drupes, are shiny, red to purple to black,
edible but pungent cherries (6). Some ecotypes have yellow berries
rather than the traditional dark red or black (4).
Roots: Establishing at the nodes, the deep fibrous root system and
rhizomatous network, may extend up to 10.6 m (35 ft) laterally and
1.8 m (6 ft) vertically (2). The diameter of the rhizomes range from
1 to 2 cm (0.4-0.8 in) thick.
GENERAL HABITAT CONSIDERATIONS
Soil Types and Conditions: Grows well in a variety of soil types
from Entisols to Mollisols and textures of silt to sandy loams (2, 8).
Establishes on acidic to moderately alkaline soils. In green
ash/chokecherry communities, the pH for fine textured soils ranges
from 6.0-7.6.
Moisture/Temperature Requirements: Matures at low to moderate
elevations in areas of accumulated moisture, riparian zones, wooded
draws, steep ravines, open areas, fence lines, roadsides, rocky
outcroppings, grasslands and open forests on warm aspects (2, 4, 6).
In the Northern Great Plains, chokecherry is found in shallow to
moderately deep soils with an annual rainfall of 91.4 cm (36 in) (3).
Prunus virginiana has the ability to withstand colder temperatures
than its’more southern counterparts. Tolerance of colder temperatures
is based on enhanced ice nucleations of the bud axis and scales (3).
Management Considerations
UTILIZATION
Forage and Palatability: Domestic cattle and sheep eat chokecherry
but it’s browsed heaviest by sheep. Leaves and bark contain prussic
acid, none of which is toxic until it is ground and mixed with digestive
juices. Prussic acid acts similar to hydrocyanide. Consuming 1/4lbs or 1 1/2-lbs will kill a domestic sheep or 500-lb cow, respectively.
The forage must be consumed during one feeding otherwise the
prussic acid is essentially harmless. Fortunately livestock do not
over consume this species unless no other palatable forage is available.
(2, 7)
Wildlife Use: Highly regarded as an important wildlife forage also
providing habitat, watershed protection, and species diversity.
Browsed by pronghorn, elk, moose, bears, coyotes, and big horn
sheep. Deer relish the young shoots. Chokecherry provides cover
for many avian species and many other wild and domestic ungulates.
Fruits are important as fodder for birds. (2, 7)
PLANTING
Growth Season and Seedling Establishment: Leaves appear in
spring to early summer, flowering 1-3 weeks later. Fruits are produced
in late summer to fall. Juvenile annual growth in the Northern Great
Plains is quite variable, 13-28 in per year, showing high survival
rates (4). Nursery grown seedlings require a competition free firm
seedbed with at least 38 cm (15 in) or annual precipitation (2).
Propagation: Reproduces from seeds, rhizome cuttings, or layering
(2, 4). The seeds need scarification to break the hardy endocarp
ensuring the best germination results. Seeds are immediately dormant
and require a ripening period in the presence of oxygen and moisture.
Mammal and avian regurgitation or defecation will scarify the
endocarp and leave a microclimate for seed germination. Viable
seeds will persist in the soil bank for long periods until conditions
are optimum for germination.
DISTURBANCE
Response to Competition: Newly established seedlings need 2-3
years free from competition for best development. Excised rhizomes
about 11 years old will resprout faster than Gambel’s Oak rhizomes
(2). Chokecherry is a host to several insects and diseases (4).
Response to Grazing: Resprouts after release from grazing. This
species isn’t overly consumed otherwise heavy use may result in
livestock death. Shearing of Prunus virginiana will cause the species
to slow down apical growth by 15-28%.
Common
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana L.
Sources:
1. Hitchcock, C. Leo and Arthur
Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific
Northwest. Seattle, WA: University of
Washington Press. 730p.
2. Johnson, Kathleen A. 2000.
Prunus virginiana. In: Fire Effects
Information System, [Online]. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available:
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2005,
May 5].
3. Kader, Sorkel A. and Edward L.
Proebsting. 1992. Freezing behavior of
Prunus subgenus Padus, Flower buds. J.
Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 117(6):955-960.
4. Kundson, Micheal J. et al. 1990.
Improvement of Chokecherry, Silver
Buffaloberry, and Hawthorn for conservation
use in the Northern plains. In: Stream flow
data for undisturbed forested watersheds in
Central Idaho. General Technical report INT272. 291-299.
5. Morber, Brian E. and Kiyoko
Miyanishi. 1995. Post-fire regeneration of
black cherry and chokecherry in a Southern
Ontario Oak Savanna. In: Proceedings:
Symposium on Fire in Wilderness and Park
management. General Tech Report. INTGTR-320. 234-236.
6. Parish, Roberta, Ray Coupe and
Dennis Lloyd (ed.). 1996. Plants of Southern
Interior British Columbia. Lone Pine
Publishing. 464p.
7. U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service. 1937. Range plant handbook.
Washington, DC. 532p.
8. Voorhees, Marguerite E. and D.E.
Uresk. 1992. Relating soil chemistry and
plant relationships, in wooded draws of the
Northern Great Plains. Great Basin Naturalist
52(1): 35-40.
Response to Fire: Well adapted to fire by resprouting from root
crowns or rhizomes (2). Fire can increase stem density. Post spring
burn and autumn wildfire shoot responses for Prunus virginiana
varied from 1-15 per plant. Heat from the fire scarifies the seeds,
positively affecting germination. (5)
Response to Drought: Probably does well in periodic drought
situations based on its locations on drier sites.
Prepared by OSU Rangeland Ecology
and Management, April 2005.