We and our neighbor are curious what this is. Growing in South Dakota. We tried Plant ID and it returned elderberry, but the red leaves are something we haven’t seen before. (Also first time posting so apologies if I didn’t do this correctly)
by MeeowwMixx
10 Comments
Definitely not elderberry. The leaves would suggest some sort of cherry, but what kind, I couldn’t say.
Maybe a red leaved sand cherry
It’s a cultivar of Prunus virginiana, chokecherry. Either ‘Canada Red’ or ‘Schubert’s Chokecherry’
AI sucks at plant identification and many other things. This is some type of cherry.
Choke cherry
This is common chokecherry. Tart cherries so might wanna use them for jams and syrups.
Just be really careful with the pits.
Chokecherries are edible raw, but the seeds, leaves, and stems contain toxic hydrocyanic acid. Please be careful.
Better images of the leaves, and how they are attached to the twigs, overside, and underside, always helps, as does a closeup of the fruit, and a cross section.
Elderberries grow in clumps that are shaped a bit like an umbrella. This is definitely not it.