Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)
Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry)
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$30 minimum per species for seed.
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Pure Live Seed
Pure Live Seed
Seed is provided in Pure Live Seed (PLS) unless otherwise stated.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) refers to the percentage of a seed lot that consists of the desired species and is viable (capable of germination).
Here's why PLS is crucial for native seeds:
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Accurate Planting:
- PLS helps determine the actual number of viable seeds in a given weight or volume of seed.
- This ensures you plant the correct amount of seed to achieve the desired density and success rate.
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Cost-Effectiveness:
- By knowing the PLS, you can avoid overspending on seed that may not germinate.
- This is especially important for native seeds, which can be more expensive than some cultivated varieties.
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Weed Control:
- PLS helps minimize the presence of weed seeds within the seed lot.
- This reduces competition for resources and ensures the successful establishment of the desired native plants.
-
Ecological Restoration:
- Using high-quality native seeds with a high PLS is essential for successful ecological restoration projects.
- It helps to re-establish diverse and resilient plant communities that support local wildlife.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
Weight Conversions lbs. to oz.
0.01 pounds = 0.16 ounces
- 0.1 pounds = 1.6 ounces
- 0.25 pounds = 4 ounces
- 0.5 pounds = 8 ounces
- 0.75 pounds = 12 ounces
- 1.00 pounds = 16 ounces
Chokecherry develops quickly as a shrub or small tree with an irregular crown. It tolerates many soil textures and a broad moisture range in sun or light shade.
For Prunus virginiana, choose full sun to light shade and moist to dry-mesic soil. Recorded habitats include woods and savannas, including sandy sites; Woodland openings and borders; Wooded ravines and bluff slopes; Stabilized Lake Michigan dunes; Thickets, including sandy thickets. Reported height: 8-25 ft.
Leave room for the mature branches beside paths and nearby plantings. Growth habit: shrub or small tree with an irregular crown; underground runners sometimes produce clonal plants. Root structure: shallow, spreading woody roots with underground runners.
Plant specifications & ecological relationships
Key growing facts
| Sunlight | Full sun to light shade |
|---|---|
| Soil moisture | Moist to dry-mesic |
| Height | 8-25 ft |
| Bloom season | Mid- to late spring |
Show / hide ▾Growing & planting details
| Growth habit | Shrub or small tree with an irregular crown; underground runners sometimes produce clonal plants |
|---|---|
| Root form | Shallow, spreading woody roots with underground runners |
| Soil pH | Tolerates acidic to alkaline soils |
| Cultivation hardiness zones | Zones 2a–6b (NC State cultivation guidance) |
| Drought tolerance | Medium |
| Deer browsing | Deer occasionally browse foliage and twigs. |
| Salt tolerance | Medium |
| Plant toxicity | NC State flags poison characteristics; listed parts: leaves, seeds, stems. Pet safety is not established. |
Plant identification & seed reference
| Botanical name | Prunus virginiana |
|---|---|
| Other common names | choke cherry; Chokecherry; Choke Cherry; Common Chokecherry |
| Seed germination | USDA lists cold stratification as required; duration is not specified. |
| Plant family | Rosaceae |
| Seeds per pound — reference estimate | 4971 |
Plant characteristics
Prunus virginiana (Chokecherry) is a large native shrub or a small understory tree of the woodland edges, mesic woodlands and savannas, and sandy woodlands. This species has white flowers in the spring leading to exquisite red fall foliage. This species is easily cultivated and is quite beautiful, is important as a wildlife food source, and attracts a variety of birds with its fruit. It is beautiful, but be careful on small landscapes as it can reproduce quickly and can easily overtake a garden.
Show / hide ▾Native range & C-value
| Wetland indicator — NWPL 2022 Midwest | FACU |
|---|---|
| C-value — Chicago region, Flora 2017 | 3 |
| Chicago-region native — Flora 2017 | Yes |
| Native range — U.S. states | Arizona; Arkansas; California; Colorado; Connecticut; Delaware; Georgia; Idaho; Illinois; Indiana; Iowa; Kansas; Kentucky; Maine; Maryland; Massachusetts; Michigan; Minnesota; Missouri; Montana; Nebraska; Nevada; New Hampshire; New Mexico; New York; North Carolina; North Dakota; Ohio; Oklahoma; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; South Dakota; Tennessee; Texas; Utah; Vermont; Virginia; Washington; West Virginia; Wisconsin; Wyoming |
| County nativity | Not yet verified; occurrence records do not establish nativity. |
Show / hide ▾Plant communities & associates
Other regional plant communities
These plants are named with this species in published vegetation accounts. Each list keeps its community and region; some records describe a shared vegetation type rather than neighboring plants in a measured plot. They are ecological records, not a planting recipe, and may include plants unsuitable for a particular garden.
- Coastal dune forests (Northern Lake Michigan): Betula papyrifera, Pinus resinosa, Pinus strobus, Picea glauca, Thuja occidentalis.
- White-cedar forests (Lower northern Michigan): Acer saccharum, Fraxinus americana, Acer spicatum, Betula papyrifera, Tilia americana, Cornus alternifolia, Ostrya virginiana.
- Forests and tall-shrub understory (Northeastern Minnesota): Populus tremuloides, Populus grandidentata, Pinus resinosa, Pinus banksiana, Acer spicatum, Cornus alternifolia, Cornus rugosa, Amelanchier spp..
- Oak savanna (Minnesota): Quercus macrocarpa, Quercus ellipsoidalis, Rhus glabra, Corylus americana.
- Oak-hickory woodland undergoing canopy change (Southwestern Wisconsin): Acer saccharum, Fraxinus pennsylvanica, Ulmus rubra.
- Shrublands along draws and streams (Northern and Central Great Plains): Amorpha canescens.
- Woodland shrub and small-tree associates (Northeastern and central North America; account synthesis): Cornus alternifolia.
- Grassland and shrub associates (Prairie region; account synthesis): Juniperus virginiana.
- Dense thickets along draws and seeps (Northern Colorado): Prunus americana.
- Mixed-oak valley forests (Central Pennsylvania): Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Quercus velutina, Prunus serotina.
- Northern hardwood and conifer forest (Green Mountains, Vermont): Acer saccharum, Fagus grandifolia, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens, Acer pensylvanicum, Acer spicatum, Prunus pensylvanica, Sorbus americana.
- Oak-forest shrub layer (Central and Great Lakes region): Quercus ellipsoidalis.
- Oak and mixed-shrub draws (Northern Great Plains): Quercus macrocarpa.
- Riparian woodland and shrub communities (Custer National Forest, Montana): Ribes americanum.
- Remnant upland tallgrass prairie (West-central Missouri): Rudbeckia hirta.
Show / hide ▾Pollinators & wildlife
Caterpillars & other plant-feeding insects
This plant has published caterpillar host records for the butterflies and moths listed below. These are larval feeding relationships, separate from adult nectar visits. The records span a North American literature compilation and do not establish that every insect occurs locally or uses only this plant.
Butterflies & skippers
- Callophrys augustinus — The Brown Elfin
- Celastrina ladon — Spring Azure
- Celastrina lucia — Lucia Azure
- Limenitis lorquini — Lorquin's Admiral
- Papilio glaucus — Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Moths
- Acronicta hasta — Speared Dagger, Cherry Dagger, Dart Dagger
- Acronicta quadrata — Square-Eyed Dagger, Qudrate Dagger
- Acronicta radcliffei — Radcliffe's Dagger
- Ambesa walsinghami
- Aphelia alleniana — Wide-Striped Leaf Roller, Allen's Tortrix
- Archips fervidana — Oak Webworm Moth
- Archips fuscocupreanus — Exotic Leafroller Moth, ?Asian Leafroller (listed as introduced in the source)
- Bondia comonana
- Caloptilia invariabilis — Cherry Leaf-Cone Caterpillar Moth
- Cenopis diluticostana — Spring Dead-Leaf Roller Moth, Oak Cenopis
- Cenopis directana — Chokecherry Leafroller Moth
- Cenopis reticulatana — Reticulated Fruitworm Moth
- Ceranemota fasciata
- Chaetaglaea sericea — Silky Sallow
- Coleophora pruniella — Cherry Casebearer, Apple Leafmining Casebearer, Western Cigar Casebearer
- Dysstroma citrata — Dark Marbled Carpet
- Eacles imperialis — Imperial Moth, Imperial Spiny Caterpillar
- Egira alternans — Alternate Woodling
- Egira curialis
- Euchlaena johnsonaria — Johnson's Euchlaena
- Eucirroedia pampina — Scalloped Sallow
- Eulithis xylina — The Phoenix
- Eupsilia devia — Lost Sallow
- Haploa confusa — Confused Haploa
- Herpetogramma thestealis — Zigzag Herpetogramma, Subtle-Feathered Grass Moth
- Iridopsis ephyraria — Pale-Winged Gray
- Lithophane baileyi — Bailey's Pinion
- Lithophane pertorrida
- Lithophane petulca — Wanton Pinion
- Macaria confederata
- Metarranthis hypochraria — Common Metarranthis
- Metarranthis obfirmaria — Yellow-Washed Metarranthis
- Olethreutes inornatana — Inornate Olethreutes
- Orthosia alurina — Gray Quaker
- Orthosia hibisci — Speckled Green Fruitworm Moth, Speckled Green Quaker
- Petrophora subaequaria — Leaping Looper, Northern Petrophora
- Pococera aplastella — Aspen Webworm Moth
- Sparganothis unifasciana — One-Lined Sparganothis
- Trichordestra tacoma — Tacoma Cutworm
- Xylena thoracica — Acadian Swordgrass Moth
- Ypsolopha falciferella — Scythed Ypsolopha
- Ypsolopha walsinghamiella
Leafhopper hosts
The INHS revision lists this plant as a host for the following Eratoneura leafhoppers. These plant-feeding insects are distinct from caterpillars and flower visitors.
- Eratoneura rostrata
Host names follow the 2010 taxonomic revision. Its distribution records do not establish a host observation at your planting site.
Other insect & wildlife relationships
Caterpillars this plant can feed
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.
- Fruit: Birds eat the fruit.
- Browsing: Mammals browse the foliage.
NC State species account; regional use, not a Chicago insect occurrence assertion. These records do not guarantee that every insect occurs at your planting site.
Show / hide ▾Frequently asked questions
What are the ideal growing conditions for Chokecherry?
Prunus virginiana performs best in partial sun to light shade with mesic (woodland edges & thickets) conditions. It thrives in authentic regional soil types ranging from sandy loam to well-drained clay loams.
How do I germinate and establish Chokecherry from seed?
Seed of Prunus virginiana has a germination code of C(60). For best results, sow seed in late fall/winter for natural outdoor freeze-thaw stratification, or cold-moist stratify in refrigeration for 30 to 60 days before spring indoor propagation.
Is Chokecherry deer and herbivore resistant?
Yes. Native plants adapted to Midwestern habitats naturally produce protective secondary compounds and fibrous textures that make them highly resistant to deer, rabbits, and other grazing herbivores.
When should I expect Chokecherry to emerge and bloom?
Established plants break dormancy in spring as soil temperatures warm, developing vigorous foliage before blooming in their seasonal window to provide vital nectar when native pollinators need it most.
Show / hide ▾Sources & ecological notes
Chicago-region assessment: Wilhelm & Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region, via Kenneth Johnson’s Universal FQA dataset (2018). Chicago-region native status is separate from U.S. nativity.
The C-value and Chicago-region native status shown here also agree with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Chicago Region FQA dataset (2017), distributed through the USACE/ERDC fqadata package under CC0.
Flora of the Chicago Region (2017) records this taxon as native in the Chicago region.
The state list describes native botanical distribution. It does not establish county nativity or occurrence, suitability for every site, or the origin of the plants and seeds offered here. An unlisted state is not proof of absence.
Range data: World Checklist of Vascular Plants, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; 4 June 2026 release, accessed 7 September 2026. © The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. CC BY 3.0; selected and reformatted. Kew cannot warrant the quality or accuracy of these data. This use has no Kew endorsement.
State and county nativity: The state list uses WCVP records marked native, excluding introduced, extinct and doubtful records. County nativity has not yet been verified for this listing. Presence in a county or preserve does not establish nativity there.
Insect and wildlife records: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — species account. Selected species-level facts checked 7 September 2026 and summarized by Natural Communities. Genus-only specialist-bee lists and unrelated adult feeding records are not assigned to this species.
Available Flora-linked Chicago assessments remain controlling. These regional ecology accounts supplement evidence not available for direct reuse from the Flora; they are not represented as Chicago Flora association lists.
Plant communities: USDA Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System (FEIS): Amorpha canescens; Cornus alternifolia; Juniperus virginiana; Prunus americana; Prunus virginiana; Quercus ellipsoidalis; Quercus macrocarpa; Ribes americanum; Rudbeckia hirta. Selected association facts regrouped in original wording; regional scope retained. No source photographs or captions reproduced.
Caterpillar host records: Shropshire, K.J. & Tallamy, D.W. (2025), Lepidoptera of North America, Supplement 1. Contains information from this database made available under the Open Database License (ODbL 1.0). Natural Communities selected species-level records and screened source qualifications. The complete selection and transformation instructions for this page are available below under the same license.
Leafhopper records: Dmitriev, D.A. & Dietrich, C.H. (2010), Review of New World Erythroneurini IV: Eratoneura, Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin 39(3):79–258. © 2010 University of Illinois Board of Trustees; CC BY 4.0. Explicit host treatments selected and regrouped by Natural Communities. PDF treatment pages: Eratoneura rostrata.
C-value source: Flora of the Chicago Region (2017), Universal FQA database 80. Matched source taxon: Prunus virginiana. Exact.
Sources checked September 5, 2026. Regional assessments and growing observations apply to their stated settings. Unverified fields are omitted; missing information does not mean an ecological relationship is absent.
- Illinois Wildflowers — John Hilty. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Bloom Season; Deer Resistance; Height; Opening botanical description; Primary Native Habitats; Root Architecture & Depth; Soil Moisture Range; Soil pH Range; Spread Habit; Sun Exposure; Sunlight Exposure.
- Universal FQA — Flora-linked Chicago database 80. Taxonomic names, family and regional nativity originally checked against Kenneth Johnson’s Flora-linked database 80 (2018), citing Wilhelm & Rericha (2017). Limited factual identification only; the C-value follows this Flora-linked database wherever an exact or documented synonym match is available. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Botanical Name; Chicago-region native status; Plant Family.
- USACE/ERDC fqadata — Chicago Region FQA 2017. Herman, B., Sliwinski, R. & Whitaker, S. (2017), Chicago Region FQA Calculator; distributed by USACE/ERDC in fqadata under CC0. Values may differ from Flora of the Chicago Region (2017). CC0 dedication. Retained for comparison; the displayed C-value follows Flora database 80.
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Limited botanical facts presented in Natural Communities’ own wording. Source-specific observations retain their stated scope; photographs, original descriptive prose and compiled relationship tables are excluded. Supports: Alternate Common Names; Ecological Function; Larval Host Status; Toxicity / Pet Safety; USDA Hardiness Zones.
- USDA NRCS PLANTS — taxon profile and characteristics. USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, checked September 5, 2026. Numeric and categorical taxon-level facts only; no photographs or third-party guide prose reproduced. Supports: Drought Tolerance; Germination Code; Salt Tolerance; Seeds per pound — USDA reference estimate.
- USACE National Wetland Plant List 2022 — Midwest. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2022 National Wetland Plant List, Midwest region; effective February 13, 2024. Federal data. Supports: Wetland Indicator Status.
- USDA Forest Service — FEIS, wildflower accounts and seed manual. Walsh, Roberta A. 1994. Rudbeckia hirta. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Fire Effects Information System. Public-domain synthesis; community records retain their reported geography. Supports: Documented community associate: Rudbeckia hirta.
- Illinois Natural History Survey Bulletin — Eratoneura paper. Dietrich, C.H. & Dmitriev, D.A. (2010), Review of the Species of New World Erythroneurini, IV. Genus Eratoneura. Copyright University of Illinois Board of Trustees. CC BY 4.0; selected host records summarized and reformatted. No endorsement implied. CC BY 4.0. Supports: Leafhopper host record: Eratoneura rostrata. Source locators: page=135.
Flora rating attribution: Kenneth Johnson (2018), Flora of the Chicago Region UFQA Database, following Gerould Wilhelm and Laura Rericha (2017), Flora of the Chicago Region: A Floristic and Ecological Synthesis. Individual rating facts are presented with original commentary; the calculator’s software license is not treated as a license for the underlying Flora publication.
The linked Illinois plant relationships were reconciled with INHS-hosted source inventories on September 6, 2026. Same-remnant pairs were calculated from shared named-site occurrences and organized for this catalog; they are not copied narrative descriptions or proof of microsite compatibility.
Historical botanical names remain visible where used by the source. These regional accounts supplement the available Chicago Flora evidence.
Reusable research data
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Plant Shipping & Care
Plant Shipping & Care
We want to ensure that our customers get what they want, a native backyard oasis. To do that, we need to follow a few simple guidelines and give you some information and pointers to make sure you get your plants delivered in a healthy state.
As a reminder, you will receive an email to confirm your pickup or shipping window just before the plants are ready. See Order Fulfillment below for seasonal fulfillment windows.
Choices to Receive Your Plants & Accessories
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Order Fulfilment - When Your Plants or Other Items Will Be Ready
We take orders all year long and seed is shipped all year, but we only provide the plants to you in certain fulfillment windows to ensure healthy plants.
Wholesale Orders
- Shipped or are Ready For Pick Up As Requested.
Retail & Website Orders
- Seed Typically Ships Out Within One Week Of Order All Year Long
- Typically, single species flats ship when ready, sometimes as soon as early to mid-April (depends on weather) through early-October.
- Mixed species kits are batched and shipped as indicated on the product page.
- If a plant order is placed while outside of the plant fulfillment window your plants will be reserved through your payment, however, the order will not be fulfilled and shipped until the following spring. We don't want to provide you plants when they won't be happy during the cold winter months.
- Early in the spring and later in the fall certain species may be dormant or partially dormant with brown leaves, however they will return to grow healthy next growing season.
- Your order may arrive in several different shipments.
- If certain plants within an order will not be available until a later date, we may choose to hold the full order until all are ready. In certain circumstances, we may choose to send them in two separate shipments
- Fulfillment is always dependent upon plant availability. We try our best but sometimes plants do not overwinter well and perish. If a plant is on back order you will receive an email indicating the estimated shipping date. If we can not provide the plant we will first notify you and give you an option of substitution or a refund of that individual species.
- Plants are typically only packaged and shipped on Mondays to ensure they do not sit in the harsh delivery facility for extended periods of time over the weekend. You will receive a confirmation email once your delivery has been shipped and to estimate your delivery date.
- Apparel & accessories are ready typically within one to two weeks. See product page for holiday shipping.
Where We Ship
What to Expect When Receiving Your Delivery
- Your plants will be packaged with the utmost care
- We will need to cut back certain plants prior to shipping. This seems counter-intuitive, however, the fewer leaves the less water the plants can lose during shipping, resulting in healthier plants for you. This also enables the plants to fit within the protective packaging and shipped safely.
Shipments
- Larger plant shipments will look similar to the picture below with a tray of your plants and a cardboard box to protect them during shipping.
What to Do With Your Plants After Receiving Your Delivery
- Unpack your order IMMEDIATELY
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- Install your plants as quickly as possible and water the entire garden area thoroughly
- If you cannot install your plants immediately
- Some plants may not be in a container, put them into some kind of a container such as a paper cup with loose soil until installation
- Make sure each plant is receiving the appropriate amount of light.
- Continue to water daily each morning and possibly again in the afternoon
- No additional fertilizer is needed
Seed Shipping & Care
Seed Shipping & Care
There is a minimum order requirement of $30 for each seed species. Seed ships all year and typically ships within a week of an order being placed.
We have attempted to put together some basic information regarding native seed installation, establishment, and maintenance. We hope you find it helpful. If you need further assistance on native seed establishment, please schedule a free consolation call here.
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