The Monday Garden, a FREE e-publication
Eco-gardening is at its best in The Monday Garden
June 13, 2004, Issue 116
Around my town, in May, you can’t miss the ornamental Japanese cherries . Beautiful but they’re mostly bred to be sterile; so, while they aren’t invasive, environmentally, they’re just a pretty face (except to trunk-boring insects). Fortunately, our bountiful native chokecherries also abound. Some are intentionally-planted cultivars but many are nature’s come-by-chance gifts.
Picture: Chokecherry fruit ripening on Bedford Street, in Stamford CT, June 2004
Since the birds spread the seeds, you could consider chokecherries (Prunus virginiana), growing in dense thickets along the roadsides and in the hedges, as part of the birds’ on-going habitat restoration project. It’s one native that can compete with many of the invasive plants that like the same sites.
If you want a small (15 to 25’), carefree tree with mid-summer fruit for the birds, and pretty spring flowers for you (said to smell strongly of almonds), it’s hard to beat a chokecherry. You also get nice, open shade and a good windbreak; the birds and squirrels get a cozy nesting habitat.
picture: Morgan Street, Stamford CT May 2004
The breaking buds and new leaves in spring are lovely, as is the bark. The young twigs are red, maturing to the shiny reddish-brown with the prominent horizontal striping that’s the hallmark of cherries.
picture: Young leaves and twigs, Hoyt Street Alley Stamford CT 2004
The older tree trunks are deeply furrowed, gracefully masterpieces. The pretty fall leaves are an extra bonus.
picture: a mature chokecherry fighting with an invasive Asian Bittersweet, Hoyt Street Stamford, CT April 2004
Chokecherries naturally live in mixed stands with other larger shrubs, often at the edge of forests or in moist places. As I child, I encountered them along the fence lines in upstate N.Y., and, of course, had to see for myself if the sour fruit would really choke you (answer: not quite).
picture: young chokecherry tree, Morgan Street alley, Stamford CT, June 2004
Take it from the U.S.A. Forest Service: “Chokecherry is widely regarded as an important wildlife food plant and provides habitat, watershed protection, and species diversity.” Likewise, the Kansas Forest Service: “Chokecherry is very popular for wildlife habitat. It provides food and cover for songbird nesting, bird loafing and roosting, and animal loafing and bedding. It is relished by a great number of wildlife species.” (We do have many birds and small mammals in these parts of the ‘burbs, but I seldom catch them loafing -- perhaps we need more chokecherries).
In the wild, large mammals, such as bears, moose, coyotes, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, elk, and deer also enjoy the tree’s bark, twigs, fruit and/or leaves and use its thick stands for cover. Chokecherry is poisonous to domestic cattle and sheep, but it is said that they don’t eat fatal quantities unless other forage is scarce.
Culture: If you want a chokecherry, it’s often just a matter of not pulling up what the birds bring you. For faster service, you can buy them at most nurseries, including the wonderful ‘Canada Red’ cultivar that hardy to Zone 3 and whose leaves turn deep purple as they mature. Chokecherries like full sun or a bit of shade. They like moister sites but must have well drained soil and prefer the mid-PH range (6.0 to 7.0). Give it some room to create its own little thicket from sucker-roots. It’s prefect for the edge of a “rain garden”, a privacy screen or a windbreak.
picture: planted cultivar, Morgan Street, Stamford CT May 2004
If there’s any fruit left for you, it’s too tart for humans to eat raw but it’s great for jelly, jam, syrup, and wine. Native Americans used the bark, fruit, leaves, and twigs for medical purposes, and added the fruit to pemmican.
Photo credits: Sue Sweeney
© Sue Sweeney 2005
Comments (6)
where does one find a chokecherry tree? i am interested in purchasing but nothing in available via the internet.
Posted by jill boettcher | June 23, 2006 7:18 AM
Posted on June 23, 2006 07:18
Jill -- Choke cherry is a good choice, your birds will be delighted. And there are a number of garden-friendly hybrid cultivars.
Searching under the Latin name, Prunus virginiana,
I found this vendor http://www.laspilitas.com/plants/544.htm, and
Dave's Garden lists 5 other vendors. http://davesgarden.com/ps/go/75408/
I have no experience with any of the vendors; Dave's Garden gives feedback on the vendors that they list.
Hope this helps
Sue
Posted by S. W. Sweeney | June 23, 2006 11:05 AM
Posted on June 23, 2006 11:05
I have a choke cherry tree in our yard, it is about 10 years old. This is the first years it has had such an amount of fruit on it, and the birds make a terrible mess. Is there anything I can do to keep it from bearing friut? HELP.
lEE
Posted by Lee Kohler | July 24, 2006 10:33 PM
Posted on July 24, 2006 22:33
Lee - Sorry but the you can't stop the tree from bearing fruit, except by cutting off all the flowers.
Chances are, though, that the tree will be less productive at least alternating years and less of a bother.
It is native, attractive and extremely hardy, and, as you note, it does supply important bird food. However, if it's making your life intolerable, think about replacing it with a less-messy tree. Shop around before you cut. You will find that every tree has its issues and that, in comparison, perhaps the choke cherry isn't so bad.
Also, there may be a less dramatic way to reduce the worst of the problem. Thanks to the birds, the fruit doesn't last that long, so, take a good look at exactly what's causing the problem for you. For example, patio furniture could be temporarily moved or covered; or, perhaps, cutting off one or two branches would direct the mess away from the walkway.
Hope this helps.
Sue
Posted by S. W. Sweeney | July 25, 2006 8:22 AM
Posted on July 25, 2006 08:22
Sue,
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I am going to continue to dig, as I do think there is something that I can spray the tree with that will stop it from either blooming or bearing fruit. Thanks again
Lee
______________________
Lee -- there probably are hormone suppressants out there but I'd never use them, especially on a tree. I urge you to re-think this.
First, to spray a tree requires a large quantity of product 'cause trees are big, and the product can't be confined to the tree -- it drifts all over the yard. Second, there is no guarantee of safety -- garden products are not adequately tested. Especially a hormone product -- unfortunately, only the Lord only knows what the product might do to the local insects, frogs, birds, dogs, kids, or your wife.
Is the fruit mess so bad but the tree so valuable that it is worth this risk to the environment and your neighbors, human and otherwise?
Sue
Posted by Susan Sweeney | August 10, 2006 8:58 AM
Posted on August 10, 2006 08:58
Hi,
I really dont think it is that much of a risk. I have a very nice back yard with white vinyl fence, very nice deck with very nice furniture, a beautiful arbor etc.. The birds (100's) of them pluck the berry then fly around and distribute their manure droppings on everything and it runs grape color and makes an undisirable mess, that must be washed off everything daily, and it stains. Guess the best thing to do is remove the tree. I am very disappointed in the nursery that sold us the tree, as a silver leaf maple. Now the owner has sold out and retired. Thanks
Lee
__________________
Lee -- I agree that another tree would be better for you. The silver maple would be great.
Good luck
Sue
Posted by Susan Sweeney | August 10, 2006 5:19 PM
Posted on August 10, 2006 17:19