chokecherry, (Prunus virginiana), also spelled choke cherry, deciduous shrub or small tree belonging to the rose family (Rosaceae), native to North America. It is aptly named for the astringent acidic taste of its reddish cherries, which may be made into jelly and preserves.
Can you eat a chokeberry?
Black chokeberry can also be used as an edible fruit crop although the fruit is too astringent to eat raw. The high-antioxidant fruit is used in baking and to make jams, jellies, syrup, tea, juice and wine.
Are Chokeberries poisonous?
The chokecherry is edible, but not as a whole fruit. Like cherries and apricots, it’s not the flesh or skin of the fruit that’s toxic; instead, it’s the seed or pit. Chokecherries contain amygdalin, which the body converts into cyanide, a deadly poison, which is why people don’t generally eat cherry pits.
Why are chokecherries poisonous?
All cherries and other species of Prunus have poisonous pits. They contain amygdalin, a product the body converts into cyanide, a deadly poison, after consumption. However, people usually don’t eat cherry pits, not even those as small as the ones found in chokecherries.
Can you eat chokecherries?
Use: The chokecherry is mostly to tart to eat raw, but makes a good jelly. DO NOT EAT WILTED LEAVES OR FRESH SEEDS. They contain cyanide, but cooking the fruit will rid it of the cyanide.
What are chokeberries good for?
Aronia berries, or chokeberries, grow on shrubs of the Rosaceae family. They’re rich in fiber, vitamin C, and powerful antioxidants that may have heart-healthy, immune-boosting, and anticancer properties.
Why is it called chokeberry?
Aronia is a type of shrub native to North America that is now grown in Eastern Europe. “Aronia” generally refers to the berries that grow on the shrub. These aronia berries are also known as chokeberries because of their sharp, mouth-drying effect.
Are chokeberries toxic to dogs?
Cyanide poisoning is very serious and can be life-threatening. If your dog has eaten chokecherries, call your veterinarian immediately.
What do chokeberries look like?
Chokecherry fruits grow in clusters and are spherical, measuring 0.6 to 1 cm (1/4 to 3/8 inch) in diameter. Their color varies from white through deep red to black, according to the variety. Chokecherries usually drop their fruits by mid-fall. Crush the fruits underfoot on hard ground.
What is the difference between chokecherries and chokeberries?
Chokecherry, Prunus virginiana, is a native plant that suckers and grows rapidly. One way that chokecherry is different from chokeberry is that the fruit of chokecherry turns black as they mature, whereas red chokeberry fruits stay red through development. Chokeberries are also much more tart than chokecherries are.
What do chokecherries taste like?
Some varieties of chokecherries are more palatable than others, and the cultivated chokecherry is described as having a mildly sweet, cherry taste. With the addition of sugar, chokecherries are often used to make jam, syrup, and fruit pies. Chokecherry wine is somewhat comparable to wine made from grapes.
How do you identify a chokecherry?
Chokecherry Identification
Chokecherry trees are recognizable by their dark green, ovate leaves with finely serrated margins and pointed tips. Also, look for cylindrical clusters of white spring flowers. In summer, chokecherry shrubs are identified by clusters of red or purple pea-sized fruits.
Are black Chokeberries poisonous?
Generally, all parts of plants from the Prunus genus are considered poisonous, but those in the Photinia genus are not. From earthday coalition: “The fruit of the black chokeberry, while bitter raw, makes excellent jellies, jams and juices. The berries also provide a natural red dye.”
What does a ripe chokecherry look like?
The fruit of the chokecherry plant is small and round and hangs in easy to pick clusters off the plant. They start out a light green color, and then progress through yellow, to bright red and then finally a deep red when ripe.
Where do chokecherry trees grow?
Chokecherry is native to much of the United States, as well as parts of Canada. The tree often grows in the moist soils near streams in foothills and mountain canyons at an elevation between 4,900 to 10,200 feet. Chokecherry prefers sunny situations, though it is more shade tolerant than many other cherry trees.
When should you pick chokecherries?
Don’t be fooled into thinking the red fruit is ripe; one bite will convince you otherwise. Depending on where you live, chokecherries flower in April – June. The plants stand out in the landscape when they’re in bloom, so make a note when you pass a good clump, and check back in late summer or early fall.
Do birds eat chokeberries?
While you might see black chokeberries more often in the mountains, they still thrive when planted in our zone, and seem to be preferred over red chokeberries by the birds. You’ll notice that winter birds, such as cardinals, are especially fond of the antioxidant-rich fruit.
Is chokecherry juice good for you?
The entire berry is rich in disease-fighting antioxidants, flavonoids, anthocyanins and proanthocyanins, each said to possess a high-capacity value at fighting against allergies, viruses and cancer-causing elements. Chokecherries also contain a high dose of quinic acid which is known to prevent urinary tract infection.
Are black chokeberries good for you?
Chokeberry contains antioxidants and other chemicals. These chemicals might help to protect the heart and blood vessels, reduce swelling and blood sugar levels, and kill cancer cells.
Where are chokeberries grown?
Though black chokeberry is native to eastern North America, it has been planted extensively in Europe and Asia. In Russia, Denmark and eastern Europe the fruit is widely used for juice and wine production.
Is chokeberry an evergreen?
A tough, dependable plant with four-season interest, Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry) is a tall, multi-stemmed, semi-evergreen shrub adding beauty to the garden.
