Amur Chokecherry

Virtues: This ornamental tree flowers in early to mid-spring. Relatively small tree, good for smaller gardens, patio/porch areas, front yards. Less prone to diseases than other Prunus species. Gorgeous shiny gold to reddish bark acts as winter interest. On some specimens, bark is also shaggy, adding more interest. Shown: Spring flowers of P. m. 'Amber Beauty'. Habit, bark and leaves photographed in summer.

Common name: Amur chokecherry, Manchurian cherry

Botanical name:Prunus maackii

Foliage: Oval, 2 to 4 inches long. Deciduous. Medium green in summer, yellow in fall.

Flowers: Clusters of fragrant white flowers appear in early to middle spring. Tiny black fruits develop in late summer. Attractive to birds.

Habit: Deciduous tree to 30 feet tall, with a dense, rounded crown spreading to 25 feet wide. Usually has multiple trunks but can be trained to grow on one trunk.

Season: Spring for flowers, winter for bark, provides summer shade, fall for yellow foliage.

Origin: Native to Manchuria and Korea.

Cultivation: Grow in full sun to part shade, in moist but well-drained soil. Responds well to pruning for shape. Can look like a large mulitstemmed shrub if not pruned. Prune in late winter. USDA Zones 3–7.

Habit image attribution

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