Schubert cherry

Cerisier 'Schubert'

Prunus virginiana 'Schubert'Rosaceae (rose family)

Origin: Eastern North America (cultivated variety)

TREE, BARK, TWIGS

Schubert cherry is a tall shrub or small tree with a rounded crown and often dense foliage.

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LEAVES

Leaves are purple-red when mature, oval or nearly so, with fine teeth on the edge.

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Flowers

Flowers are small, white, with protruding stamens, borne in compact, elongated clusters in spring.

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Fruit

Fruits are shiny, dark red or black when ripe, borne in elongated clusters of 8 - 12.

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TREE, BARK and TWIGS

Schubert cherry is a tall shrub or small tree, to 4 - 10 m (13' - 33') tall, and 15 cm (6") diameter with a variable, but often rounded crown.

The slender flexible branches grow upward when young. With age there are often lower drooping branches.

Bark is grey-brown, smooth or finely scaled.

Twigs are reddish brown with abundant pale pores (lenticels). Terminal buds are 3 - 4 mm (1/10") long, with a pointed tip and brown bud scales that are paler on the edge.

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LEAVES

Leaves are 4 - 12 cm (1 1/2" - 4 3/4") long, oval or widest just above the middle with an abrubtly pointed tip and edges with fine, sharp-pointed teeth.

Leaves are green when they emerge in the spring and turn deep maroon or purple-red by mid-summer.

Leaves have an alternate arrangement on the branch.

In the Fall leaves retain their dark colour or fade to brown.

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Flowers

Flowers are small, white, with protruding stamens, borne in compact elongated clusters 8 - 15 cm (3" - 6") long.

Flower clusters are borne at the tips of new short shoots below the terminal leafy long shoot.

Flowers open in late spring, before the new leaves have fully developed, and while they are still green.

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Fruit

Fruits are shiny, dark red or black when ripe, borne in elongated clusters of 8 - 12.

Individual fruits are round, 8 - 10 mm (less than 1/2") in diameter, juicy with a pit (stone) inside.

Fruits ripen in August or September.

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FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT Schubert cherry

Cultivar origin

Schubert cherry, also known as Canada Red cherry or Purple-leaved Chokecherry, is a cultivated variety of the native chokecherry Prunus virginiana. It was specifically bred for its purple foliage.

Derivation of names

The genus name Prunus is the classical Latin name for the plum tree, from the Greek word prunos, meaning plum. This genus includes all species of cherry, plum, almond and peach. The species name virginiana is the Latin for "of Virginia", a reference to the purported distribution of the plant when it was first named by Linnaeus.

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Schubert cherry IN TORONTO

Schubert cherry's place in Toronto's urban forest

Schubert Cherry's purple leaves make it a colourful addition to the urban forest and it has been frequently planted in parks.

Landscape value and potential for home planting

Schubert cherry is attractive for its foliage and small size. It prefers mostly sunny sites with good soil. All parts of the tree, except for the flesh of the fruit, contain hydrocyanic acid, which is toxic to humans and some animals.

Pests and diseases: Schubert cherry is a favoured food of tent caterpillars which cover the branches and leaves in their silky nests.

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WHERE CAN I SEE Schubert cherry?

Find trees on Tree Tour maps at Canadian Tree Tours:

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FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT Schubert cherry

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