Food: The common name, chokecherry, came from the bitter and astringent taste of the fruit. The fruit was a staple for numerous Indian tribes across the North American continent, especially to tribes who lived on the plains and prairies. Chokecherries were routinely cooked before they were eaten or dried thoroughly.

Is it safe to eat chokecherries?

Chokecherry fruit is definitely edible and not toxic. ... Chokecherry seeds contain a cyanide compound, like apple seeds, and they can be toxic if eaten raw in large quantities. That said, the traditional Native American way of preparing chokecherries involves pounding the whole fruit and seed and drying it in the sun.

What is another name for chokecherries?

Prunus virginiana, commonly called bitter-berry, chokecherry, Virginia bird cherry, and western chokecherry (also black chokecherry for P. virginiana var. demissa), is a species of bird cherry (Prunus subgenus Padus) native to North America.