Prunus virginiana
Owner: Dale Vranckx
Nominator: Dale Vranckx
Height: 11.6 m (38 ft)
Diameter: 37.64 cm (14.8 in)
Circumference: 118.2 cm (46.5 in)
Description
The Choke Cherry is commonly found as a shrub, but in a favourable location it can grow to 9 m or higher. It has a slender trunk that is often twisted and crooked and grows a narrow, irregular crown. It is a fast-growing, but short-lived tree. A common tree, it can be found in Newfoundland to British Columbia and south into most states in the United States. It can even be found in a few locations in the Yukon. The Choke cherry can be found in a variety of open habitats, commonly occurring where there are rich, moist soils, such as on the edge of woodlands, thickets, roadsides, along streams and in clearings and upland woods. First Nations people ate the choke cherry fruit. They collected the cherries in the fall and dried them usually with the stones left in. They also used the wood for handles of implements, and shredded the bark for decorating basket rims. A tonic could be made from the bark for helping women regain their strength after childbirth. Choke cherries can be used for wine, juice, syrup and jelly. This tree is an important food source for wildlife. (Source: Focus on Forests)
Choke Cherry
(Source: AAFC)