Scientific Family
Rosaceae
Synonyms
Prunus alabamensis, Padus australis, Padus cuthbertii
Other common names
Southwestern chokecherry
black chokecherry
Plant type
Trees
Riparian
Yes
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Similar species
Prunus virginiana
Small deciduous tree to 30 feet tall with reddish-brown hairless twigs and spreading, pendulous limbs and arching branches. Crowded trees grow tall and slender, uncrowded more rounded.
Leaves alternate, often uneven at their base, taper at base and tip, margins finely toothed, hairless or few hairs on the veins beneath; white flowers in long, slender clusters on short branches; fleshy fruit with thin skin and a central stone.
Height
25 to 30 feet
Width
25 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Found along streams and in moist canyons.
Plant Community
Riparian
Low elevation
4500
High elevation
6000
Leaves
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaf hairs
Bottom of leaves
Spines
No
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Elliptical to 4 inches long by 2 inches wide and with fine saw-toothed margins. Row of fine brown hairs along midrib on bottom of leaves.
Flowers
Flower color
White
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
May
5 rounded petals to 1/2 inch wide in cylindrical cluster to 4 inches long.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Purplish-black
Fruit type
Berry-like
Shiny, juicy succulent fruit (drupe) to 3/8 inch in diameter.