17 Fascinating Chokecherry Tree Facts That Are Unheard Of!

Chokecherry grows on a special type of tree which goes by the name Prunus virginiana, Chokecherry bushes are common in North America in open woodlands.

There are many different kinds of Chokecherry trees, some of the plants are easier to plant than others. Although, all kinds of Chokecherry carry a very sweet and cherry-like taste.

A red Chokecherry is often used to make jam or any kind of syrups that can be used in fruit pies. The red berries are eaten by birds, bears, and deer as well, these cherries also look very similar to certain poisonous cherries which are found in Canada, red in color, and have the same flowers as the Chokecherry.

Nonetheless, Chokecherries are very much common in North Carolina as well, and these late summer cherries are so famous that they are the official fruit of North Dakota.

Chokecherry Tree Classification

A mature fruit from a Chokecherry plant is still very small is barely of the size 3 in (8 cm).

• Chokecherry tree has dark green leaves and these Chokecherries often grow on small trees, the tree is not very big, rather it is just a very small tree that yields berries during late summer.
• Chokecherries are excellent for wildlife, this fruit is eaten by a number of animals and butterflies often feed their larvae with Chokecherry.
• A Chokecherry tree will start yielding flowers during late spring.
• This tree needs full sun exposure in order to grow fruits, the flower starts showing at the very start or end of spring.
• Different species of Chokecherry plant grow at different rates, some grow far easier than others.
• The Chokecherry belongs to the rose family.
• The Chokecherry is native to North America.
• Young trees of this species have very rough and scaly bark, whereas mature trees have very smooth bark.
• The bark of the Chokecherry tree is brown in color.
• You can often see deer eating the fruit of Chokecherry trees.
• The flowers of Chokecherry trees often look white in color, whereas the fruits appear purple in color, or they have a tinge of purple in them.

Other Names Of Chokecherry Tree

Chokecherries are eaten in various communities and they come in different colors as well.

• Eastern chokecherry is excellent for jams and syrup; after removing the stones, which is mostly done by scarping the chokecherries, one can make jams out of them.
• The chokecherry leaves and seeds of these fruits have cyanide, which is the reason why some deer die after eating the leaves or seeds of the chokecherries.
• Chokecherries are not poisonous to humans at all.
• The stones along with the foliage of chokecherry contain poison, therefore they should be removed.
• Chokecherry is also used widely to treat canker sores or any kind of cold sores.

Medicinal Uses Of Chokecherry Tree

Schubert chokecherries are edible and they are also used in baking as well.

• Chokecherries need full sun to grow and their small tree often grows to have multiple stems.
• The bark of a chokecherry tree is grey, they have multiple stems and the trees are often very small in size with bright colored leaves.
• A chokecherry tree generally starts riping during winter or early spring. That's the best time to trim the pruning tree.
• Chokecherry, prunus virginiana, was used by native American people to treat a number of illnesses, they used the bark and fruits both.
• In the earlier times, the chokecherry was helpful in curing diarrhea or a sore throat; the juice of these berries had good medical properties.
• Earlier chokecherry was a staple fruit of many communities, today they are often compared with their cousin cherries for taste and quality.
• Its believed that a black cherry tastes better than chokecherry.
• Some people also argue that the juice of wild berries can also cure anxiety. Although, there are pieces of evidence on how in ancient times people sued wild berries and herbs to cure cold and anxiety. The chokecherry juice is known to help during anxiety as well.

Nutritional Value Of Bitter Berry Fruit Of Chokecherry Tree

Chokecherry is used for making juices and jams and even fruit pies. Although, today the use of wild berries and herbs is limited in the olden time they were widely used. The chokecherry comes under the rose families and there are numerous other species of berries under this family.

• The chokecherry is known for its slightly acidic, mildly sweet, and cherry-like taste. It is very much similar to the taste of other berries as well, which come in the same rose family as the chokecherry does.
• The chokecherry got its name due to its acidic taste. Some people also find this taste bitter and astringent. Given the bitter taste that this cherry leaves in your tongue after consuming it, it was thus named chokecherry.
• Nature has given us its own medical recipes and the chokecherry plants are one of them. These native berries have a good nutritional value, they are high in vitamin C and come packed with antioxidants along with polyphenols.
• Many birds eat these berries, the chokecherry is also favorite berries among butterflies and other insects as well, they often feed their larvae with these berries.
• Many rodents are also fans of the wild chokecherry, along with the wild rodents, rabbits, and hares also can't resist tasting these berries.