Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is in the rose family family (Rosaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 1,804 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.
Nationally it blooms mainly from May to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.
When to photograph Chokecherry: observations by month (U.S.)
About Chokecherry
Prunus virginiana, commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry (also black chokecherry for P. virginiana var. demissa), is a species of bird cherry (Prunus subgenus Padus) native to North America. The natural historic range of P. virginiana includes most of Canada (including Northwest Territories, but excluding Yukon, Nunavut, and Labrador), most of the United States (including Alaska, but excluding some states in the Southeast), and northern Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Baja California, Durango, Zacatecas, Coahuila, and...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Chokecherry by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 207 | May | May–May |
| Colorado | 177 | May | Apr–Jun |
| New York | 161 | May | May–May |
| California | 133 | May | May–May |
| Minnesota | 132 | May | May–May |
| Maine | 129 | May | May–Jun |
| Utah | 115 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Massachusetts | 81 | May | May–May |
| Oregon | 81 | May | May–May |
| Michigan | 77 | May | May–May |
| Washington | 68 | May | May–May |
| Wisconsin | 63 | May | May–May |
| Illinois | 54 | May | Apr–May |
| New Hampshire | 40 | May | May–May |
| Pennsylvania | 37 | April | Apr–May |
| Ohio | 35 | May | Apr–May |
| South Dakota | 30 | May | May–May |
| Montana | 25 | May | May–Jun |
| New Mexico | 23 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Idaho | 17 | May | May–Jun |
| Connecticut | 16 | May | May–May |
| Nevada | 16 | June | May–Jun |
| Wyoming | 15 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Nebraska | 13 | May | Apr–May |
| Virginia | 11 | May | May–May |
| North Dakota | 10 | May | May–May |
| Alaska | 9 | June | Jun–Jun |
| Indiana | 7 | May | May–May |
| Iowa | 5 | May | May–May |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related wildflowers (rose family)
Multiflora Rose
Virginia strawberry
Southern Dewberry
Trailing Blackberry
Purple-Flowered Raspberry
Thimbleberry
Salmonberry
Mock Strawberry
Photography tips
- Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
- Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
- Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
- Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Chokecherry?
Nationally, May has the most observations, with the main season from May to May.
Where is Chokecherry most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Colorado, New York.