Western Chokecherry vs Witch Hazel - TreeTime.ca

Western Chokecherry vs Witch Hazel

Prunus virginiana var. demissa

Hamamelis virginiana

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

NOT AVAILABLE THIS SEASON - MIGHT RETURN

Western Chokecherry
Witch Hazel

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.

Witch Hazel is a deciduous shrub, or small tree, with a short trunk, bearing numerous spreading, crooked branches.

The seeds grow in a long, wooden pod with two to four seeds per pod. Upon ripening, the pods burst, firing the seeds up to 30km an hour.

The leaf and bark extract of Witch Hazel has been used as a remedy to common ailments such as inflammation, bruises and much more for many centuries.

Western Chokecherry Quick Facts

Witch Hazel Quick Facts

Zone: 2a
Zone: 3a
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 6 m (20 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 3 m (10 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: any
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: slow
Life span: short
Life span: long
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium

Toxicity: toxic to horses, cattle, etc.)

Fall colour: reddish-purple
Berries: edible, astringent, red-purple
Seeds: seeds ejected to a distance of up to 30 ft
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


Other Names: bitter-berry, chokecherry, common chokecherry, virginia bird berry