Flower profile
Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a shrub or small tree in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly April–June across the U.S.
Chokecherry is a flowering plant that USDA PLANTS lists as native in the lower 48 states. It's on our flower lists for 11 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in April–June.
*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 17, 2026.
On our lists for: Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Wyoming
Quick look
Prunus virginiana, commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry, is a North American species of bird cherry.
- It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub / a tree with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 44 states. USDA PLANTS
- In Colorado, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in April–June. iNaturalist
- In Minnesota, most iNaturalist sightings of it in flower come in May–June. iNaturalist
- USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as mid spring. USDA PLANTS
- USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 25 ft. USDA PLANTS
- iNaturalist has 4,986 research-grade sightings of it in Colorado, ranking #18 among the 160 flowers on our Colorado list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 2,713 research-grade sightings of it in Minnesota, ranking #41 among the 152 flowers on our Minnesota list. iNaturalist
- iNaturalist has 1,623 research-grade sightings of it in Montana, ranking #10 among the 128 flowers on our Montana list. iNaturalist
When does it bloom?
Bloom time in the 11 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
| State | Type | Peak bloom | Sightings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Native | April–June | 4,986 |
| Minnesota | Native | May–June | 2,713 |
| Montana | Native | few records (25) | 1,623 |
| Utah | Native | April–June | 1,368 |
| Maine | Native | May–June | 1,200 |
| Vermont | Native | May–June | 1,140 |
| Idaho | Native | few records (18) | 949 |
| Wyoming | Native | few records (15) | 618 |
| South Dakota | Native | few records (30) | 496 |
| Nebraska | Native | few records (13) | 318 |
| North Dakota | Native | few records (10) | 269 |
Conservation status
- Federal (U.S. ESA)
- Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
- NatureServe global
- G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
- State rare plant lists
- Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 4 of our 11 states.
See each state
- Minnesota
- Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
- Maine
- Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
- Vermont
- Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
- Nebraska
- Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Nebraska. 163 NAC 4-004
- Colorado
- No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Colorado.
- Montana
- No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Montana.
- Utah
- No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Utah.
- Idaho
- No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Idaho.
- Wyoming
- No list Wyoming has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Wyoming ranks instead. NatureServe: S5, secure in Wyoming.
- South Dakota
- No list South Dakota's endangered and threatened list (ARSD 41:10:02) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's South Dakota ranks for plants. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in South Dakota.
- North Dakota
- No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in North Dakota.
- Rare elsewhere
- Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: GA (S1), NC (S2), TN (S1). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)
Checked October 17, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.
Can you eat it?
NC State Extension lists it as poisonous to humans (severity: low). Poisonous parts: leaves, seeds, stems. Symptoms they list: “Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting, shock.” NC State Extension
ASPCA's entry “Choke Cherry” (Prunus virginiana) lists it as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Signs include: Stems, leaves, seeds contain cyanide, particularly toxic in the process of wilting: brick red mucous membranes, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, panting… ASPCA
🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.
Where does it grow?
USDA PLANTS records chokecherry in 44 states plus Washington, D.C.
recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded
See the full list of states
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming; District of Columbia.
Colorado counties with USDA records: Alamosa, Archuleta, Baca, Boulder, Chaffee, Clear Creek, Custer, Delta, Denver, Dolores, Douglas, Eagle, El Paso, Elbert, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Jefferson, Kit Carson, La Plata, Larimer, Las Animas, Logan, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Phillips, Pitkin, Prowers, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, Summit, Teller, Weld, Yuma.
Minnesota counties with USDA records: Aitkin, Anoka, Becker, Beltrami, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carlton, Cass, Chippewa, Chisago, Clay, Clearwater, Cook, Cottonwood, Crow Wing, Dakota, Douglas, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Grant, Hennepin, Houston, Hubbard, Isanti, Itasca, Jackson, Kanabec, Kittson, Koochiching, Lac qui Parle, Lake, Lake of the Woods, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Marshall, Martin, McLeod, Meeker, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Mower, Murray, Norman, Olmsted, Otter Tail, Pennington, Pine, Pipestone, Polk, Pope, Ramsey, Red Lake, Redwood, Renville, Rice, Roseau, Scott, Sherburne, St. Louis, Stearns, Steele, Stevens, Swift, Todd, Traverse, Wabasha, Wadena, Waseca, Washington, Watonwan, Wilkin, Winona, Wright, Yellow Medicine.
Montana counties with USDA records: Big Horn, Blaine, Carbon, Carter, Cascade, Chouteau, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Fergus, Flathead, Gallatin, Glacier, Jefferson, Judith Basin, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Lincoln, McCone, Meagher, Missoula, Musselshell, Park, Petroleum, Phillips, Pondera, Powder River, Powell, Prairie, Ravalli, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Teton, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, Yellowstone.
Growing conditions
USDA PLANTS gives Chokecherry a high shade tolerance, medium drought tolerance and medium moisture use. It is rated for soil pH 5.2 to 8.4 and winter lows down to -43 °F.
- Shade tolerance
- High
- Drought tolerance
- Medium
- Moisture use
- Medium
- Soil textures it is adapted to
- coarse, medium, fine
- Soil pH range
- 5.2 to 8.4
- Minimum temperature tolerated
- -43 °F
- Frost-free days needed (minimum)
- 120
- Annual precipitation range
- 13 to 65 inches
- Minimum root depth
- 20 inches
- Salinity tolerance
- Medium
- Fertility requirement
- Medium
- Growth rate
- Rapid
- Lifespan
- Short
- Active growth period
- Spring and Summer
- Fruit or seed
- Black · Summer to Summer
- Can be propagated by
- bare root, container, seed
- Commercial availability
- Routinely Available
From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for PRVI. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.
Names, range and relatives
Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Alaska: Introduced; Alaska: Native; Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native; St. Pierre and Miquelon: Native.
County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 1276 counties across 40 states; the most are in Minnesota (79), Kansas (78), Michigan (77).
Other Prunus on Bloomipedia (16): Black cherry, Carolina laurelcherry, American plum, Beach plum, Peach, Cherry laurel, Fire cherry, Desert peach, Sweet cherry, European plum.
More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry, Trailing blackberry.
More Colorado flowers
Sources
- USDA, NRCS. PLANTS Database, profile PRVI.
- iNaturalist, Prunus virginiana: taxonomy, research-grade observation counts and “Flowering” annotations, retrieved October 17, 2026.
- Wikipedia, Prunus virginiana (lead quoted under CC BY-SA 4.0).
- State rare and invasive plant lists (15):
Show all 15 state lists
- Colorado: Colorado noxious weed lists A, B and C (8 CCR 1206-2, eff. May 15, 2025).
- Minnesota: Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300).
- Minnesota: Minnesota Noxious Weed List (Minn. Stat. § 18.79; Minnesota Department of Agriculture, updated January 2026).
- Montana: Montana noxious weed list (Admin. R. Mont. 4.5.206–4.5.210).
- Utah: Utah noxious weed list (Utah Admin. Code R68-9-3).
- Maine: Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories.
- Maine: Maine Do Not Sell invasive plant list (01-001 C.M.R. ch. 273).
- Vermont: Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022).
- Vermont: Vermont Quarantine List, Regulated Introduced Plant Species Rule (eff. June 16, 2026).
- Idaho: Idaho noxious weeds (IDAPA 02.06.09, Section 220).
- Wyoming: Wyoming state designated noxious weeds (W.S. 11-5-102(a)(xi)), as listed by the Wyoming Weed & Pest Council.
- South Dakota: South Dakota statewide noxious weeds (ARSD 12:62:03:01.06).
- Nebraska: Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004).
- Nebraska: Nebraska noxious weeds (25 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 10, § 001.02).
- North Dakota: North Dakota state noxious weeds (N.D. Admin. Code 7-06-01-02), as listed by the ND Department of Agriculture.
- USFWS, ECOS species database (ESA listing check), October 17, 2026.
- NatureServe Explorer, Prunus virginiana (global and state ranks).
- Edibility and toxicity: NC State Extension; ASPCA.
- Photo: JCorven via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized.