American chokeberry
Prunus virginiana

Family: Rosaceae

What it is like

A small tree. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 8 m tall. It usually has several stems. The leaves are 10 cm long and have teeth along the edge. The leaves have white hairs underneath. The fruit are in groups along a 10 cm long stalk. The fruit ripen to dark red or black.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant.

Countries/locations it is found in

Canada, North America (country/location of origin), Slovenia, USA

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten fresh or dried and used for jelly and preserves. They are bitter. The twigs are used to flavour food. The seed kernels are added to dried meat and fat (Pemmican). The bark and twigs are used for tea.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds, twigs - flavour, bark - tea

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Dooisabui, Pokopisa, Tooisabui, Virginska sliva

Synonyms

Cerasus virginica Michx. ex hort.; Padus rubra Mill.; Padus virginiana (L.) Mill.; Prunus serotina Poir.; and others