Chokecherry seeds · Seeds compared
Wild vs Garrington chokecherry seeds
Local wild stands and a selected prairie strain offer two starting points for chokecherry seedlings.
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View seedsFrom our listing
Black Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa) seed was collected near Oak Summit Nursery from wild stands. It grows as a compact suckering shrub or small tree and is well adapted to cold winters, sandy soil, and exposed prairie conditions.
From our listing
Garrington is a selected strain of Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) known for vigorous growth and large black fruit that ripens early, in July at Oak Summit Nursery. Its fruit is larger than that of typical wild chokecherries, which ripen here in August.
Photos and fruit descriptions refer to the seed parents. These are seeds, not cloned plants; seedlings vary.
Side by side
Growing details
| Detail | Wild Black Chokecherry | Garrington |
|---|---|---|
| Seed parent fruit size | Medium chokecherries | Large chokecherries |
| Fruit colour | Not recorded | Black |
| Ripening (seed parent) | August | July · early |
| Cold hardiness zone | 2 | 2 |
| Seed source | Manitoba | Not recorded |
| Stratification | 3 to 4 months cold | 3 to 4 months cold |
| Mature size | Not recorded | about 15 ft |
A closer look
More about each choice
Wild Black Chokecherry
Black Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa) seed was collected near Oak Summit Nursery from wild stands. It grows as a compact suckering shrub or small tree and is well adapted to cold winters, sandy soil, and exposed prairie conditions.
The fruit changes from dark red to black as it ripens in August and may remain on the branches into fall. Fully ripe chokecherries can be eaten fresh or used for jelly and wine, and the fruit is also valuable for wildlife.
Garrington
Garrington is a selected strain of Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) known for vigorous growth and large black fruit that ripens early, in July at Oak Summit Nursery. Its fruit is larger than that of typical wild chokecherries, which ripen here in August.
It originated near Garrington, Alberta, and was adopted by the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration as a seed parent for prairie shelterbelt plantings. Because it was maintained through seed, today's plants represent a strain descended from those original plantings rather than a clone of one named plant. Open pollinated seedlings will vary in fruit and growth traits.
From the nursery
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Seasonal photos and observations, alongside the seeds and plants we grow.
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