Cherry, Wild Virginia Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) seeds, Organic [INTL NO]
$4.95 – $19.00
Family: Rose (Rosaceae)
Hardy to Zones 2 to 10
(Chokecherry, Eastern Ecotype) Deciduous woody shrub to 12 feet tall native to the Eastern US and Canada, flowering white, giving way to clusters of ruby fruits that are good for wildlife and humans to eat. Ripe fruits very strong cherry flavor, sweet. Plant prefers shade to sun and rich, moist to mesic soils. Leaves a source of hydrocyanic acid that can be toxic to ruminants–do not allow goats and horses, etc. to eat this plant. Traditional medicinal use of the berries and inner bark (Native American, TWM): decongestant and antispasmodic used for treating sore throat, colds, fevers and especially cough. Dried de-seeded fruits a common ingredient of pemmican. Excellent on cereal or as an ingredient in baked goods. The tree is a good choice for shelterbelts with high value for wildlife, food and medicine. Seeds are fresh and cold-stored. Sow as soon as possible after receipt. Winter freezing is not a problem. After the seedlings reach sufficient size, transplant to individual pots and grow on for a year before planting out to landscape. Place bushes 10 feet apart.
Packet contains 10 seeds
10 g contains ~150 seeds
Certified Organically Grown
Faith Hunsberger –
Thank you Richo, and to clarify– once planted as directed on the seed packet, the suggestion is to keep moist, cool and shaded. Does this mean to keep these out of a sunny window or is that ok? It doesn’t get all day sun in the area I am planning. & Once they’ve been transplanted does the mention of winter freezing not being a problem mean they can grow in those pots outdoors until the year mark for planting out to the landscape? Or is it necessary for them to grow indoors alone for their first year?
I appreciate you and all you do!
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Richo Cech –
hi there faith, You will have to protect the seeded pots and seedlings from frost until the weather settles. A bright window sounds fine. Moist, cool and shaded refers to outdoor conditions where the cherry seedlings will do best. Set them outdoors once the weather settles. They can be transplanted to the landscape after they size up, and yes, at that point, they will be very frost tolerant.
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Faith Hunsberger –
What is the seed spacing for starting them out?
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Richo Cech –
Hi Faith. Thanks for contacting. I would put 3 seeds to a cell (3-inch pot or larger). If planting in a deep flat then space the seeds 3 inches apart both ways. It is a good idea to provide room for the taproot to grow unimpeded as deeply as possible–6 inches would be good–that will make a very good transplant come spring. Many of these seeds have already sprouted by the time they get to you–plant with root down and leave the newly forming cotyledon firmed in at the surface. They will grow. Richo
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Richo Cech –
Hi Frank, Thanks for staying in touch. My opinion is that wild cherry seeds, once held in moist storage, should be kept in moist storage until planting. richo
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Question
Frank Gagne –
It says in stock, but also has a ‘notice’ at the top of the description. So not sure which is accurate. I will order it anyways and hope it arrives soon.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Frank,
Thanks for letting me know about this. Old notes return to haunt me, and you appropriately disregarded. I removed the old note. Things have gone as expected, for once, and newly harvested seed is in stock and will be with you soon. Enjoy this, it is one of the better hedgrow species out there. Richo
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Frank Gagne (verified owner) –
Awesome. Thanks so much for clearing that up. I am super excited to receive my order.
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Richo Cech –
Hi Frank,
I rely on fellow seeders to keep me oriented and so your communication did cause me to check on the wild cherry seeds. True to form the seeds were already throwing tails so did plant a flat for us and made sure the shippers know not to send overly sprouted seeds your way. You won’t have long to wait, they are doing an incredible job keeping up. You’ll get tracking to your e-mail when this goes out.
Richo
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Joanna Higginbotham –
Don’t use potting soil from ACE Hardware to start seeds. Every single spout will die. This happened with all my 10 chokecherry seeds. Then later I tried to start 2 seeds from a rare barberry bush, and the same thing was happening to the poor little sprouts. I figured it must be the ACE potting soil. I transplanted the 2 ailing sprouts into different potting soil and they both came back to life.
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