Choke cherry

Leaves

Form

• Broadly oval to widest above the middle
• Thin; abruptly tapering to both ends, particularly to the short, sharp tip
• 1 or 2 glands at the base of the leaf blade
• Occasional tufts of hair at the vein axils on the lower surface

Length

• 5–10 cm

Colour

• Upper surface dull green
• Lower surface paler

Margin

• Teeth sharp, closely spaced, 4–5 per vein
• Each tooth ends in a straight hair-like point

Buds

Form

• Sharp-pointed, diverging slightly from the twig

Length

• 3–4 mm

Colour

• Scales dark brown with pale edges

Twigs

Form

• Slender to moderately stout, smooth
• Only member of the genus without a greyish skin that wears off
• Very strong bitter almond odour when bruised

Colour

• Greyish-brown

Flowers

Form

• In elongated, dense, cylindrical clusters at the end of new short leafy shoots

Length

• 8–15 cm
• Flower stalks 5–6 mm

Structure

• Synoecious

Floral timing

• Before the new leaves are fully developed

Fruits

Form

• In elongated drooping clusters of 6–12 fruits
• Very astringent but edible
• Minute remnant of flower calyx at the base of each fruit

Width

• 8–10 mm

Colour

• Varying by tree from yellow to crimson to black

Timing

• Ripen in August or early September

Bark

Form

• Smooth or with fine scales
• Lenticels prominent but not extended horizontally as in most species of Prunus

Colour

• Dark greyish-brown, with age becoming almost black

Size

Height

• To 9 m

Diameter

• 15 cm

Tree form

Open-grown

Trunk

• Slender, often inclined, crooked and twisted

Crown

• Branches slender, upright to slightly spreading

Habitat

Site

• Rich, moist soils, such as along fencerows and streams, on cleared land, bordering wooded areas

Light tolerance

• Relatively intolerant of shade

Range

Transcontinental except for coastal British Columbia