Is Chokecherry deer resistant?
Prunus virginiana
Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
Not listed by Rutgers NJAES. Rated deer-resistant by El Paso County CSU Extension, whose list is a single category, mapped conservatively to Seldom Severely Damaged.
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Chokecherry
Deer do eat this one. Chokecherry is a preferred mule deer browse on winter ranges across the Intermountain West and Northern Great Plains, so read the rating as a twenty to thirty foot tree absorbing the damage, not a plant left alone. Separately worth knowing: the stems, leaves and seeds carry cyanide, worst while the growth is wilting. Black knot is what kills garden chokecherries, and the mistake is pruning at the wrong moment. The galls start as velvety olive-green growth along the stems and harden black by the end of summer. Cut them out in late winter, February or March, while temperatures are below freezing, at least four inches below the gall, and burn or bury what you take off. Every winter, not once. It also runs. The root system is shallow and spreading and throws up new plants from long underground runners, so put it where a thicket is welcome rather than in a border. Branches break off easily in ice storms.
Similar to Chokecherry
Other trees with the same deer rating.
- Allegheny ServiceberryAmelanchier laevisZones 4–8Seldom damaged
- American PlumPrunus americanaZones 3–9Seldom damaged
- Austrian PinePinus nigraZones 4–7Seldom damaged
- Chinese Fringe TreeChionanthus retususZones 5–9Seldom damaged
- Chinese Paper BirchBetula albosinensisZones 5–7Seldom damaged
- Colorado Blue SprucePicea pungensZones 2–7Seldom damaged
Where Chokecherry grows
Hardy across most of these 41 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- Oregonnative
- Washingtonnative
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakotanative
- South Dakotanative
- Montananative
- Wyomingnative
- Idahonative
- Utahnative
- Nevadanative
- Arizonanative
- New Mexiconative
- Alaskanative
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 45 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Chokecherry belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Chokecherry
- Is Chokecherry deer resistant?
- Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Chokecherry grow in?
- Chokecherry is hardy in USDA zones 2 to 6. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Chokecherry grow in shade?
- Yes. Chokecherry tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Chokecherry get?
- Mature height is roughly 360–360 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is Chokecherry toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Chokecherry as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.