Western Chokecherry vs Purple Leaf Sand Cherry - TreeTime.ca

Western Chokecherry vs Purple Leaf Sand Cherry

Prunus x cistena

Prunus virginiana var. demissa

ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTRACT GROW

SOLD OUT

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Western Chokecherry

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry provides bright reddish-purple leaves that turn bronze-green in the fall. In the spring, tiny flowers with a pinkish white hue bloom. The flowers are small, but the impact comes from the shrub blossoming all at once.

The Purple leaf sand cherry can be susceptible to pests and diseases in more humid areas; a typical life span is approximately 15 years. Not suitable for a privacy hedge on its own but is often alternated with lilacs. Often used as an accent plant that attracts birds and bees.

Western Chokecherry is a shrub or small tree commonly used for farmstead and field windbreaks.

It produces white flowers in the spring and edible dark purple fruit that matures between September and October. Its cherries are great for making for making jams, jellies or wine, but are not very palatable for raw eating.

Purple Leaf Sand Cherry Quick Facts

Western Chokecherry Quick Facts

Zone: 3a
Zone: 2a
Height: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: dry, normal
Light: any
Light: full sun
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no
Fall colour: dark red
Fall colour: reddish-purple
Berries: edible, astringent, red-purple
Flowers: pinkish
Bark: dark red to purple
Growth rate: medium
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: short
Suckering: low
Suckering: low



Toxicity: the leaves and seed are slightly toxic

Toxicity: toxic to horses, cattle, etc.)
Other Names: purpleleaf sandcherry
Other Names: bitter-berry, chokecherry, common chokecherry, virginia bird berry