Growing chokecherry
stone fruit
Pollination
Partly self-fertile; a group or a second variety crops far better.
Growing it
Zones 2-6. A very hardy native suckering shrub. Fruit is astringent raw and made into jelly and syrup; pits, leaves and wilted foliage contain cyanide compounds.
Where chokecherry grows best
Hardy in zones 2-6, and it needs enough winter cold - about 800-1400 chill hours - to flower and fruit well. Combining the two:
Good fit across most of: Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming. Also parts of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington.
Will you get enough chill?
Chokecherry needs roughly 800–1400 hours between 32 and 45 °F over winter to break dormancy evenly. Check your area with the chill hours calculator. Low-chill breeding has pushed many varieties well below the figure here, so read the plant tag.
Questions gardeners ask
What zone does chokecherry grow in?
Chokecherry grows in USDA hardiness zones 2-6.
How many chill hours does chokecherry need?
Roughly 800-1400 hours between 32 and 45°F over winter, depending on the variety. Low-chill varieties need less - check the plant tag, and estimate your own area with the chill hours calculator.
Does chokecherry need a pollinator?
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner. Partly self-fertile; a group or a second variety crops far better.
Which states can grow chokecherry?
Chokecherry suits most of Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri and 11 more, and parts of 19 other states where the right zones occur. Your own zone and chill hours matter more than the state.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.