Chokecherry (Choke Cherry) Bundle of 3

Ripe dark chokecherries hanging on the branch

Chokecherry (Bundle of 3) | Spring 2027

$89.99

Reliable shipping

Flexible returns

Pollination Partly self-fertile

Bloom group 4 of 7 (Mid)

Chokecherry pollination chart

Ripening

Will it finish before your first hard freeze?

Check it on the Ripening Map (opens in a new tab)

Disease resistanceNo strong resistance

Black knot : Highly susceptible, 1 of 5
X-disease : Highly susceptible, 1 of 5

Scored 1 to 5. Higher resists better, and ? means no published data yet.

See it on our native and shade tree disease chart (opens in a new tab)

At a glance: Chokecherry is a chokecherry tree rated hardy to zone 2 in our ratings (winters to -50°F), and partially self-fertile, so a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable.

Also called	Choke cherry, western chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)
Hardy to	Zone 2 to 6. A bare number means the whole of zone 2, colder half included (winters to -50°F). Find your zone with our cold hardiness calculator.
Chill hours	About 900 hours (500 to 1,500). From published figures. Montana winters give it plenty. In milder climates, make sure your winters average at least this much. Check your chill hours or see our sources.
Pollination	Partially Self-Fertile. Bloom group 4 of 7 (mid), late spring here. One chokecherry sets some fruit alone, but several plants fruit much better. This bundle gives you genetically different seedlings that pollenize each other. Bloom group is our estimate from the variety's origin and relatives. Pollination Charts.
Good for	Jams and jellies (9/10), juice and sweet cider (9/10), feeding wildlife (9/10), wine (8/10), pollinators (8/10), ornamental value (6/10). Scores are our own 1 to 10 ratings; 8 and up makes our Best Of lists.
Deer	Sometimes damaged by deer.
What you get	Bare root, 3-5 ft. Shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.

Overview

This Montana native tree is one of our favorites. From its uniquely cone-like white flowers in the spring (which attract tons of pollinators) to its berries—important both for wildlife and in the kitchen—Chokecherry is a must-have for any cold-climate fruit grower.

In the Kitchen

Our favorite way to use the berries is for chokecherry syrup, since they’re a bit astringent when eaten fresh.

Tough and Hardy

Hardy to zone 2—possibly even surviving temps in the -50s°F.

2nd photo courtesy of Matt Lavin.

Shipping restrictions: state quarantine

Effective September 2025, Alaska issued a statewide quarantine order prohibiting the importation, transport, and sale of chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and mayday tree (Prunus padus). We cannot ship this plant to Alaska.

Please also note: chokecherry is a host for X-disease (Western X phytoplasma). Michigan restricts planting chokecherry within 500 feet of a peach or cherry orchard and within 1,000 feet of nursery stock. If you live near commercial stone-fruit production, check local siting rules before planting.

Orders placed to a prohibited state will be cancelled and refunded.

Questions we get about Chokecherry

Does Chokecherry need a pollenizer?

It helps. Chokecherry is partially self-fertile, so it can set some fruit alone, but a second variety nearby makes crops more dependable. One chokecherry sets some fruit alone, but several plants fruit much better. This bundle gives you genetically different seedlings that pollenize each other.

How cold hardy is Chokecherry?

We rate Chokecherry hardy to zone 2, which means winters down to about -50°F. Our ratings come from real winters at our two Montana sites and from trusted growers across the North, not from a catalog average.

How many chill hours does Chokecherry need?

About 900 hours of winter chill (we count hours at or below 45°F), likely somewhere between 500 and 1,500. That comes from a Utah State study that measured chokecherries from 13 Intermountain West populations at roughly 500 to 1,500 hours. Montana winters supply that easily, and seedlings vary. Our chill hours guide has a calculator for your winters, and our research page lists the sources.

What is Chokecherry good for?

Our top use scores for Chokecherry are jams and jellies (9/10), juice and sweet cider (9/10), feeding wildlife (9/10), wine (8/10). Anything scored 8 or higher makes our Best Of lists.

Is Chokecherry disease resistant?

No. It's very prone to black knot and X-disease. Our native and shade tree disease resistance chart has every rating, the notes and the sources.

Will deer eat Chokecherry?

Sometimes. Deer browse Chokecherry now and then, so protect young plants where deer pressure is high.

What arrives, and when does Chokecherry ship?

A dormant bare-root plant, roots wrapped in moist sawdust with a vapor barrier, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring. Sizes offered: 3-5 ft. We guarantee our plants bud out. Stone fruits can be slow, so if one still has not budded out by August 15, write to us and we credit you for the following spring.