Overview

Introduce a splash of dramatic color to your garden with the chokecherry canadian red live plant. This exquisite ornamental tree is celebrated for its dynamic foliage, which emerges green in spring before maturing into a rich, deep reddish-purple hue that persists through the growing season. Beyond its striking leaves, the ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana ‘Canadian Red’) also delights with clusters of fragrant white flowers in spring, followed by small, dark, bird-attracting fruits. As a hardy and adaptable specimen, this live plant is an excellent choice for gardeners seeking a low-maintenance yet high-impact addition to their outdoor space. Whether you’re looking to create a vibrant border, a focal point, or integrate it into a wildlife garden, the chokecherry canadian red live plant offers year-round interest and natural beauty.

The chokecherry canadian red live plant is not only visually appealing but also a robust and easy-to-grow tree. Its ability to thrive in various conditions makes it a favorite among both novice and experienced gardeners. The ‘Canadian Red’ variety is particularly noted for its intense foliage color, making it stand out in any landscape design. This plant is shipped ready to plant, providing an immediate enhancement to your garden’s aesthetic.

Key Benefits

Choosing the chokecherry canadian red live plant brings numerous advantages to your garden and landscape. Its unique characteristics make it a versatile and rewarding addition:

• Vibrant Foliage: The most prominent feature of this tree is its stunning deep red to purple leaves that provide continuous color from spring through fall, creating a bold contrast against green landscapes. This striking color makes it an excellent choice for visual interest.
• Fragrant Spring Blooms: In spring, the tree produces delicate clusters of white flowers that not only add beauty but also release a pleasant fragrance, enhancing the sensory experience of your garden.
• Attracts Wildlife: Following the flowers, small dark fruits develop, which are a valuable food source for various bird species, making it ideal for wildlife gardens and supporting local ecosystems.
• Hardy and Adaptable: The chokecherry canadian red live plant is known for its resilience and ability to adapt to a wide range of soil types and environmental conditions, making it a reliable choice for diverse climates.
• Low Maintenance: Once established, this tree requires minimal care, making it perfect for gardeners who desire a beautiful landscape without extensive upkeep. Its natural growth habit keeps pruning to a minimum.
• Versatile Landscaping Use: Ideal for borders, accent planting, naturalized areas, or as a specimen tree, its moderate size and attractive form allow for flexible placement in various garden designs.
• Seasonal Interest: From colorful foliage and fragrant flowers to bird-attracting fruit, this tree offers continuous visual appeal throughout the seasons, ensuring your garden always has something special to offer.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your chokecherry canadian red live plant is straightforward, ensuring it thrives and delivers its full aesthetic potential. This hardy tree is quite forgiving, but providing optimal conditions will result in the most vibrant foliage and robust growth. For successful establishment and long-term health of your canadian red chokecherry tree, consider the following guidelines:

Sunlight Requirements: The ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry performs best in full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. While it can tolerate partial shade, its iconic deep red to purple foliage color will be most intense and consistent with ample sunlight. Insufficient light may result in greener leaves and less vigorous flowering. Position your chokecherry canadian red live plant in a location where it can soak up the sun.

Watering: During its first year, consistent watering is crucial to help the tree establish a strong root system. Water deeply 2-3 times per week, especially during dry spells, ensuring the soil remains consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, the Chokecherry ‘Canadian Red’ is relatively drought-tolerant, but it will benefit from occasional deep watering during prolonged dry periods. Good drainage is essential to prevent root rot.

Soil Type and Drainage: This adaptable tree is not particular about soil type and can grow in clay, loam, or sandy soils, provided there is good drainage. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH (6.0-7.0). If you have heavy clay soil, amending it with organic matter like compost can improve drainage and aeration. For optimal growth, ensure the planting site for your ornamental chokecherry allows water to drain freely.

Temperature Range and USDA Hardiness Zone: The ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry is incredibly hardy, thriving in USDA Zones 2-7. It is well-suited to cold winters and hot summers within this range. It can tolerate a wide fluctuation in temperatures, making it a reliable choice for many North American climates. Dormancy during colder months is a natural process and should not be a cause for concern.

Fertilization: Generally, the chokecherry care routine for established plants does not require heavy fertilization. If your soil is poor, a balanced slow-release fertilizer applied in early spring can be beneficial. Avoid over-fertilizing, as this can lead to excessive leafy growth at the expense of flowering and fruiting. Always follow the product instructions for application rates.

Common Problems and Solutions: Chokecherries are generally robust, but like all plants, they can encounter issues. Watch for common pests like aphids or tent caterpillars, which can usually be managed with insecticidal soap or by hand-picking. Fungal diseases are rare but can occur in overly wet conditions; ensuring proper air circulation and drainage helps prevent them. Regular inspection is key to early detection and treatment, maintaining the health of your red leaf chokecherry.

Size & Details

The chokecherry canadian red live plant is shipped as a live plant in a 2.5-inch nursery pot, providing a healthy start for your garden. At maturity, this striking ornamental tree typically reaches a height of 20-30 feet with a spread of 15-20 feet, forming an attractive oval to rounded canopy. Its growth rate is moderate, allowing it to establish itself effectively without becoming overly dominant too quickly. When you receive your chokecherry canadian red live plant, it will be a young specimen, ready to be transplanted and begin its journey towards becoming a mature, colorful addition to your landscape.

The 2.5-inch pot size ensures the plant has a well-developed root system, minimizing transplant shock. Expect the tree to begin showing its full color potential within the first few seasons after planting, with flowers appearing in spring and fruits developing by late summer. This ornamental chokecherry is a deciduous tree, meaning it will shed its leaves in the fall, providing a seasonal display before entering winter dormancy. Its robust nature and manageable mature size make it suitable for a variety of garden settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does the chokecherry canadian red live plant get? A: At maturity, the ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry typically reaches a height of 20-30 feet with a spread of 15-20 feet, forming a beautiful oval to rounded canopy. Its moderate growth rate allows it to fill out gracefully over time.
• Q: What condition will my chokecherry canadian red live plant arrive in? A: Your plant will arrive as a healthy, live specimen in a 2.5-inch nursery pot, with a well-established root system. During colder months, it may be dormant and have few or no leaves, which is normal for deciduous plants.
• Q: How much sunlight does this ornamental chokecherry need? A: For the best foliage color and overall health, the ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry requires full sun, meaning at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate partial shade, but the red-purple color may not be as intense.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, the chokecherry canadian red live plant is considered low-maintenance and easy to grow. Once established, it is quite hardy and adaptable to various conditions, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels.
• Q: When is the best time to plant the canadian red chokecherry tree? A: The best time to plant is in spring or fall, when temperatures are moderate. This allows the plant to establish its root system before the stress of extreme summer heat or winter cold.
• Q: What kind of soil does this tree prefer? A: The ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry is adaptable to most soil types, including clay, loam, or sand, as long as they are well-draining. It prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH.
• Q: Will the red leaf chokecherry attract birds to my garden? A: Yes, the small, dark fruits that appear after the spring flowers are very attractive to various bird species, making this an excellent choice for a wildlife-friendly garden.
• Q: Is the chokecherry care different during winter? A: During winter, the tree will enter dormancy and shed its leaves. No special care is typically needed, but ensuring it has adequate moisture before the ground freezes can be beneficial for young plants.
• Q: Can I grow this plant in a container? A: While it can be started in a container, the ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry ultimately grows into a large tree and is best suited for planting directly in the ground where its roots have ample space to spread.
• Q: What USDA Hardiness Zones is this tree suitable for? A: The ‘Canadian Red’ Chokecherry is very hardy and thrives in USDA Zones 2-7, making it suitable for a wide range of climates across the United States.