CHOKECHERRY

CHOKECHERRY; SHRUB OR SMALL TREE

RACEME OF CHOKECHERRY FLOWERS

CHOKECHERRY FRUIT (Google photo)

Tuesday, 8:00 AM.  51 degrees F on both thermometers.  Wind NE, calm with moderate gusts.  The sky is overcast, the humidity 92%.  The barometer is falling, now at 29.98".  Rain is predicted for tomorrow, with warmer temperatures for the weekend.

   Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana, in the Rose Family, is native to most of Canada south of the tundra, and to most of the northern half of the Lower 48 of the United States.  It is very prevalent after forest fires and its fruit is an important wild life food.  The cherries are very astringent but are good for jams and jellies.  It is an important species in Canada, where there have been many selections made for edibility and for use as a street and park tree (I find the Canadian cultivars too disease prone when there are other options).  There are some very pretty red-leaved cultivars and the fall color of the species is very good.

   Chokecherry is closely related to the forest tree black cherry, Prunus serotina, and except for the size difference is difficujlt for the layman to tell apart, except that the black cherry fruit is palatable 

   The chokecherries have been blooming at over a week and are now nearly done.