Red Osier Dogwood vs Western Chokecherry - TreeTime.ca

Red Osier Dogwood vs Western Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana var. demissa

Cornus sericea

Western Chokecherry
Red Osier Dogwood

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.

Red Osier Dogwood is a small deciduous shrub that features deep red stems and twigs year-round, with creamy white flowers in the spring. This shrub will add a nice pop of color to your yard.

Red Osier Dogwood is an excellent soil stabilizer. It is fast growing and becomes drought tolerant once well established.

Western Chokecherry Quick Facts

Red Osier Dogwood Quick Facts

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Zone: 2a
Zone: 2a
Height: 7 m (23 ft)
Height: 2.7 m (9 ft)
Spread: 5 m (16 ft)
Spread: 1.8 m (6 ft)
Light: full sun
Light: partial shade, full sun
Moisture: dry, normal
Moisture: normal, wet
Growth rate: fast
Growth rate: fast
Life span: short
Life span: medium
Suckering: low
Suckering: medium

Toxicity: toxic to horses, cattle, etc.)

Fall colour: reddish-purple
Fall colour: dark red
Bark: dark red, showy
Flowers: white
Berries: edible, astringent, red-purple
Berries: white waxy
Hybrid: no
Hybrid: no
Catkins: no
Catkins: no


In row spacing: 0.9 m (3 ft)
Between row spacing: 5 m (16 ft)
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB
Native to: AB, BC, SK, MB, ON, QC, NS, NB, NL, YT, NT, NU, PE
Other Names: bitter-berry, chokecherry, common chokecherry, virginia bird berry
Other Names: american dogwood, california dogwood, creek dogwood, dogberry tree, red dogwood, red twig dogwood, redosier dogwood, redstem dogwood, western dogwood