Western sandcherry vs black chokecherry plants
Western sandcherry is the smaller shrub. Black chokecherry grows taller and suckers into dense stands, making it a different choice for a hedge or a naturalized planting.
Currently unavailable
View plants →Currently unavailable
View plants →Growing details
| Detail | Western Sandcherry | Black Chokecherry |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Prunus besseyi | Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa |
| Fruit colour | Purplish black | Black |
| Growth habit | Low, broad shrub | Taller shrub that suckers into dense stands |
| Native range | Northern Great Plains, including Manitoba | Native to the Prairies and grows around our nursery |
| Fruit size | About 1/2 to 5/8 inch across | About 3/8 inch across |
| Flavour | Similar to chokecherry, but less astringent. We prefer its flavour. | More astringent |
| Mature size | 4 to 6 ft tall and wide | About 12 ft tall |
A closer look
Western Sandcherry
Western sandcherry has fruit about 1/2 to 5/8 inch across, ripening in August. Its autumn leaves turn mahogany red. It is also a parent in the breeding history of many cherry plums.
Black Chokecherry
The black chokecherries growing here share habitat with aspen, Saskatoon and wild raspberry. Their fruit improves in flavour as it ripens and can persist for wildlife after the main harvest. They tolerate sandy ground and dry conditions at the nursery.