Common Name(s)	Choke Cherry, Bitter-Berry, Virginia Bird Cherry
Scientific Name	Prunus virginiana
Family	Rosaceae
Location/Vegetative Zone	Thicket
Flowering Period	April through July
Identifying Characteristics	Grows 5m tall

Description

• Small tree or shrub native to North America.
• Leaves
  • Oval-shaped and about 3-10cm long
  • Smooth but not glossy
• Small white flowers
• Cherries are about 1cm in diameter
  • Range from red to black in color
  •  Grow in mid-may

Location

Medicinal/Edible Uses

• Berries are somewhat edible to humans
  • Bright red berries have more of a bitter or astringent taste than the darker red or black ones
  • A staple in the diet of Native Americans
• Seeds edible
• Antioxidant

Cultural Uses

• Various dyes extracted from fruits and leaves
• Used to craft wine in the Midwest

Misc

• Berries called “bird cherries” because they are generally eaten by birds

Sources

“Prunus virginiana- L.”. Plants For A Future. Web.

“Prunus virginiana L. chokecherry”. USDA NRCS. Web.

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