We live in Arizona at 3600 feet elevation have hot temps in the summer and cold temps in the winter (down to +20 or so). I purchased 4 bare root Choke Cherries, planted them and they are coming to life now, one even bloomed. My question is, has anyone else in Arizona grown Choke Cherries with any success? If so, please contact me via e-mail. Thanks, Karen
Thanks for your response. I have aready read what is in the book but was wanting "real person" experiences. I hate to depend on ONE source. Again, thanks for your response.
Keep in mind that what someone tells you on a web site about what they have done on their plot is just additional information, not necessarily more or less valid that one reads in books and magazines.
Assuming the chokecherry you've planted is Prunus virginiana (is it?), it's native to Arizona at the higher elevations... same species as is native here, by the way. (It has an extremely wide range across North America.) http://ag.arizona.edu/OALS/watershed/highlands/ponderosapine/ppflora.html
The trees actually came from Michigan, the only place I could find on line to order them. I do not know the scientific name of them, them came labeled only as "Choke Cherry". Worst case, they die. Best case, they live and I have Choke Cherries for making jams and jellies. Thanks for your reply.
Yes, you'd possibly do better to plant western chokecherry. More likely to be suited to local conditions. Depends on how much Prunus virginiana varies in this respect from one part of its large range to another. http://www.forestfarm.com/search/closeup.asp?PlantID=prvi130 Western native plants are commonly offered both by independent garden centers and by specialists as there is a vogue for planting them - including on large public projects. In my area there are multiple large nurseries growing only native plants (although a few other kinds may also creep into their listings).
