Growing chokecherry
stone fruit
WINTER CHILL NEEDED
~800–1400 hrs
POLLINATION
Partly self-fertile — crops much better with a partner
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.
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.
Chill and pollination are given at the fruit-type level; specific cultivars can differ. Values are typical ranges for home-garden planning.