Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red' (Chokecherry)

Prunus virginiana 'Canada Red'

Common name: Canada Red Chokecherry

Description: This outstanding ornamental chokecherry cultivar offers exceptional foliage colour that progresses through the seasons. The leaves emerge green in spring before transforming to striking deep burgundy-red by mid-summer, maintaining this rich colour through to autumn. In mid to late spring, the tree produces abundant drooping racemes of white flowers that are lightly fragrant and highly attractive to pollinators. By late summer, clusters of dark red to purple-black cherries develop, which are edible but astringent when raw, though excellent for making jams, jellies, and syrups. The glossy bark develops attractive orange-brown tones with prominent lenticels. 'Canada Red' has a naturally upright, oval habit and is particularly valued for adding dramatic foliage colour to mixed borders. This tough, adaptable tree tolerates a wide range of conditions and is exceptionally hardy.

Other benefits: stunning burgundy-red summer foliage, fragrant spring flowers, edible fruits for preserves, attractive bark, exceptionally hardy, tolerates poor soils and exposed sites, disease resistant

Wildlife attraction: bees, butterflies, pollinators (flowers), birds including thrushes (fruits provide food)

Height & spread (approx.) at 10 years: 4m x 2.5m

Position: full sun to partial shade; best foliage colour in full sun

Soil pH: highly adaptable; grows in acidic, neutral, or alkaline soils

Moisture: moderate watering when young; drought tolerant once established; adaptable to various moisture conditions

Winter hardiness: exceptionally hardy to -40°C and below