Chokecherry Bush Varieties

Information

• Chokecherry bushes are self-fruiting, which means that they use their own pollen to produce fruit. They do not need another cherry tree variety planted nearby for pollination. The cherries mature about 10 weeks after blossoming. Each bush produces around 30 lbs. of fruit, which amounts to anywhere from 350 to 1,100 cherries per lb. Fruit production occurs when the temperatures are below 86 degrees F. Prune away the weak and damaged branches to keep the bush producing fruit. Cut away the branches that are more than 4 years old, since most fruit forms on the younger wood.

Amur Chokecherry

• Amur chokecherry (Prunus maackii) grows well in U.S. Department of Agriculture Plant Hardiness zones 4 to 6. This variety grows from 35 to 40 feet in height and produces white spring flowers. Amur chokecherry bushes develop the classic shiny, red-brown bark that occurs and then peels away on most cherry trees. This rounded shrub is native to Asia, including Korea and other regions of Northeast Asia. The leaves stay green throughout the summer and fall. Amur chokecherry bushes tolerate windy growing conditions and are susceptible to fewer plant diseases than other chokecherry varieties. This bush has a shorter lifespan than other chokecherry types because they are attacked by tent caterpillars and Japanese beetles.

Canada Red Chokecherry

• Canada red chokecherry bushes (Prunus virginiana "Schubert") reach 20 to 30 feet tall and are hardy down through U.S.D.A. Plant Hardiness zone 3. The bright green leaves are 2 to 5 inches long and oval in shape. The leaves develop a purplish tint for the summer and turn red-orange during the fall. The white spring flowers are clustered together in 3- to 6-inch-long spikes. The 1/3-inch cherries mature from July through October and are dark red to purple in color. This type of chokecherry attracts birds to the landscape. Canada red chokecherry produces a lot of suckers around the main bush and is susceptible to black knot disease, which disfigures branches.

Western Chokecherry

• Western chokecherry shrubs (Prunus virginiana "demissa") grow to 20 feet tall if left untrimmed. In May and June, white flowers and elliptical leaves appear. Later, dark red to black fruit follow the fading of the flowers. The native habitat stretches from British Columbia through California down to Texas and Mexico. Western chokecherry shrubs grow wild on rocky hillsides, canyons, deciduous woodlands and coniferous forests.