Hello there!

I participated in a seed swap in December, and I got some Chokeberry seeds. Now, chokeberry is a shrub, so perhaps I should have posted this in the Trees & Shrubs Forum, but I know that this forum has more activity and berries are a fruit after all, so I decided to post here.

I looked into it, and someone online said that you cannot (or should not) plant chokeberry seeds unless they've been put in the refrigerator for 3 months. My first question is, is this true?

Secondly, does the chokeberry shrub need a very specific planting area, or is it not fussy and I can treat it as any other shrub (say, a boxwood)?

My final question—which is kind of related to question #2–is related to how well it coexists with other plants. Obviously, I don't want to plant it near my other shrubs just for it to prosper but kill the other shrubs in the process.

Thank you very much, and any and all information is welcome!

Good questions, Johannian; I hope someone knows the answers for you!

I think it's very likely that the seeds do need cold stratification, but beyond that I have no experience with them. Some shrubby plants also require a "double dormancy" and don't sprout until they've gone through a 2nd winter (I don't know if that's the case with the chokeberries).

Every I have seen does state that cold stratification is essential for seeds. It also seems unanimous that starting from seeds is a real challenge. This article explains some of the considerations in growing the plants in a landscape. https://www.yourgardensanctuar...
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/...
https://trees.umn.edu/chokeche...

Sure looks like a good shrub to try layering...

If I was trying to grow from seed.... Ida already planted about a quarter of the seed in a seedbed out in the winter weather... in South Dakota?
Still time.

The rest?
Maybe pot some and store pot in fridge, and leave some in saucer of water in fridge, and some in an empty saucer in fridge.

And then? Maybe shake some in a container of grit, and then put in a cup of real warm water, look for the seeds to swell in a couple of weeks.

Having no experience with these, can only suggest methods to try.

Might even try soaking some seed in something nasty like ammonia or urine...

Or maybe pass them through the chickens first?

Thank you everyone for your help. It looks like I won't get out of cold stratification.

Thanks for all the suggestions, stone. I'll try planting a few seeds outside in the seed bed, because our last frost is June 6 so maybe just being outside could be their "cold stratification" for three months.

No, we don't have chickens, otherwise I might try what you suggested.