Prunus virginiana
common chokecherry
Habitat:
Found on dry to moist, well drained sandy and gravelly sites. Range across Canada and northern United States, in the West south to southern California. Elevation near sea level to 7000 feet (Randall et al 1988).
Large shrub up to 30’ tall. Leaves 2’ to 4” long, 1” to 2” wide, oval/elliptical; dark green or yellow green, smooth and lustrous above, paler below and minutely pubescent. Margins serrate. Flowers white on elongated raceme, 3” to 6” long. Fruit round dupe 1/4” to 3/8” in diameter, dark purple and juicy. Twig when new green brown and smooth later reddish brown and smooth. Bark thin, broken and scaly (Randall et al 1988).
Courtesy USDA Plants Database