Choke cherry is a large, suckering shrub or small tree, typically reaching 3-6 m, valued for its showy spring clusters of white flowers and the dark red to purple-black cherries that follow in late summer. Though the fruit is quite astringent (tart!) fresh off the branch, it has long been gathered and processed by First Nations for food, and it’s an excellent wildlife plant – birds and mammals alike rely on the fruit, and the flowers draw plenty of pollinators. A good hedgerow or thicket species where there’s room for it to spread.