Another viburnum ? No; chokecherry

[sprucebunny]

I have this clump where 3 bushes with bunches of berries are growing.

The wild raisin we talked about in another thread is easy to seperate because the berries are slightly elongated and kind of dusty like a blueberry is.

Cranberry tree has maple-like leaves so I have that sorted.

Here's the third one.
 



I think it is called nannyberry because the crushed wood smells like goats ( I didn't test this ...)
There was an article about it in Northern Woodlands this month.

Is it edible ?

[SwampDonkey]

Chokecherry Prunus virginiana, fruit on racemes like black cherry. Ever eat chokecherry jelly?

[sprucebunny]

Thanks, Swampdonkey.

Nope, never had that kind of jelly and don't think I want to !

[thecfarm]

Sugar can make anything taste good. Wife made a dozen jars this year. As kids my Father and his sisters would eat the berries right off the tree.You lost the game if you made a face.

[SwampDonkey]

Sprucebunny, chokecherry jelly isn't one of my concoctions so it's a little safer. It's been made in these parts for eons. The cherries are dry in your mouth fresh picked, just like wild black cherries.

[Sprucegum]

Chokecherries also make a mighty fine wine   

[SwampDonkey]

I might try some chokecherry juice (shrub).

[Yoopersaw]

Wine and jelly are actually good.  Eating them off the tree, not worth the effort.

[Coon]

Chokecherries get sweeter once the berries have been frozen.  We make wine, syrup and jelly from chokecherries. 

[SwampDonkey]

You fellas and your wine. 

[nas]

Hey, It's a long cold winter up there