Selected Plants of Navajo Rangelands
Chokecherry
Didzédik’ǫ́zhí
Chokecherry is a native, deciduous, thicket-forming erect shrub or small tree. It rarely reaches a height of over 30 feet. The crown is irregular and from 10 to 20 feet wide when mature. The stems are numerous and slender. Reproduction can either be by seed or root rhizomes. Leaves are dark green and glossy above, and paler beneath, measuring 1 to 4 inches long and 3/4 to 2 inches wide. They are alternate, simple, glabrous, and oval to broadly elliptic in shape. The margins are toothed with closely-spaced, sharp teeth pointing outward, forming a serrated edge. They turn yellow in autumn.
Chokecherry foliage can be poisonous to grazing livestock. Hydrogen cyanide present in the leaves is converted to the toxic substance prunasin, either as a result of frost damage or as a result of livestock digestive processes. Results of a study indicated that prunasin concentrations are highest (5%) in the new stems and newly initiated leaves of chokecherry. Elevated levels are maintained in the leaves throughout the summer, but prunasin content of new twigs gradually diminishes over the season. The previous season's growth is generally not as toxic.
Copyright 2018 New Mexico State University. Individual photographers retain all rights to their images. Partially funded by the Western Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (westernsare.org; 435.797.2257), project EW15-023. Programs and projects supported by Western SARE are equally open to all people. NMSU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action educator and employer.
NMSU does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, retaliation, serious medical condition, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, spousal affiliation or protected veteran status in its programs and activities as required by equal opportunity/affirmative action regulations and laws and university policy and rules. For more information please read the NMSU Notice of Non-discrimination.