Black Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

Suckering deciduous shrub or small tree, often forming dense thickets. Native North America from Newfoundland to Georgia, Alaska to northern Mexico. Smooth gray-brown bark with white lenticels becoming scaly. Elliptical leaves with finely serrated margins, dark green above, paler beneath, turning yellow fall.

Clusters white 5-petaled flowers with pleasant bitter almond scent, late spring after leaves emerge. Drooping racemes. Shiny dark red fruit ripening to dark purple-black August-September (north) or June-August (south), 6-14mm diameter. Self-fertile. Very astringent bitter raw, causes puckering. Excellent jams, jellies, pies, sauces, wine. Important traditional food Indigenous peoples, part of pemmican.

Native throughout most Canada, most United States, northern Mexico. Official fruit North Dakota 2007. Archaeological remains found extensively throughout Dakotas. Important fruit for Indigenous Northern Rockies, Northern Plains, boreal forest tribes traditional diets. Cultivated varieties include 'Canada Red', 'Schubert' with purple foliage.