Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana
A thicket-forming shrub or small tree of woodland edges, ravines and open ground. Its tart ripe fruit is used for jelly and preserves after the stones are removed.
Native range
North America, including southern Ontario. Recorded widely in the Toronto region's wild flora.
Typical season
Approximate late-summer fruit reference for southern Ontario. Check the individual thicket; flowers and unripe fruit are not a harvest signal.
Identification
Look for alternate finely toothed leaves, elongated clusters of white flowers, and small cherries ripening red to dark purple. Each fruit has one stone. Seeds, leaves and stems contain cyanogenic compounds: remove stones intact and never crush or blend them. Colour alone cannot establish identity.