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Prunus virginiana Observations
(choke cherry)
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Introduction to the NPN Native Species Observation Program
Choke cherry can be found as a bush or small tree, generally 2-4 m tall, but sometimes reaching up to 10 m tall. The choke cherry prefers to grow in aspen poplar groves, ravines and the edges of creeks. 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 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.
Source: Plantwatch Canada
You should record when five well-defined phenological events occur for choke cherry:
- Sprouting of leaves (SL) is the date when the buds begin to burst open in at least three places on the plant under observation. The first green is visible on the young spring shoots and the first scales may fall off the buds.
- Beginning of the unfolding of leaves, first leaf surfaces visible (UL) is the date when in at least three places on the plant under observation first leaves have pushed themselves completely out of the bud or leaf sheath. The leaves have unfolded completely, so that the leaf stalk or leaf base is visible (sometimes only recognizable by bending back the young leaf). At this point, the individual leaf has taken its ultimate form, but has not yet reached its final size.
- Beginning of flowering, first flowers open (BF) is the date when in at least three places on the plant the first flowers have opened completely
(Photo by Derek Johnson/Plantwatch Canada).
- Fruit ripe (FR) is the date when in at least three places on the plant under observation, the fruit shows the coloring characteristics of the plant variety (i.e., is ripe), and can be easily removed (i.e., is ready to fall from the plant).
- Coloring of leaves (CL) is the date when approximately 50% of the leaves (including those that have fallen to the ground) have taken on the colors of autumn.
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Please record average dates for each event among multiple plants of the same species. Report by email if any plant appears in poor health or event dates for same-species plants vary by more than a few days.
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