Lakeshore Garden Centres Plant Finder

Other Names:  Schubert Chokecherry, Purpleleaf Chokecherry

Brand:  Plant Select

Description:

An exciting accent tree featuring rich foliage that turns deep purple as the season progresses; very attractive racemes of white flowers in spring are followed by dark purple cherries that are good for preserves; variety does not produce suckers

Ornamental Features

Sucker Punch® Chokecherry features showy chains of fragrant white flowers hanging below the branches in mid spring. It has attractive deep purple foliage with hints of burgundy which emerges light green in spring. The oval leaves are highly ornamental and turn an outstanding dark red in the fall. The fruits are showy deep purple drupes which fade to black over time, which are carried in abundance in mid summer.

This plant is primarily grown as an ornamental, but it's also valued for its edible qualities. The small round tart fruit is most often used in the following ways:

• Baking
• Preserves
• Sauces

Landscape Attributes

Sucker Punch® Chokecherry is a deciduous tree with a more or less rounded form. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition.

This is a high maintenance tree that will require regular care and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. It is a good choice for attracting birds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;

• Disease

Sucker Punch® Chokecherry is recommended for the following landscape applications;

• Accent
• Shade

Planting & Growing

Sucker Punch® Chokecherry will grow to be about 25 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 25 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 4 feet from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a medium rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 40 years or more. This is a self-pollinating variety, so it doesn't require a second plant nearby to set fruit.

This tree should only be grown in full sunlight. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. This plant will benefit from an application of bonemeal and/or mycorrhizal fertilizer at the time of planting. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selection of a native North American species.