Black Chokeberry is graced with an abundance of beautiful white flowers with pink anthers, for several weeks in May. In autumn the vibrant leaf color is a major attraction, with tones of electric orange, red and burgundy …
Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is graced with an abundance of beautiful white flowers with pink anthers, for several weeks in May. In autumn the vibrant leaf color is a major attraction, with tones of electric orange, red and burgundy. The multi-stemmed form with vase-shaped branching has a rounded top, and the mature size is typically around five or six feet tall. Black Chokeberry is a slowly suckering shrub and eventually forms a nice thicket — providing desirable shelter for a variety of birds. The blackish-purple fruits sometimes persist thru the winter, offering a feast for birds that return in early spring. The fruit can be used to make tasty jams and jellies, but is very astringent and extremely tart off the bush.
A dependable landscape shrub, Black Chokeberry may be used in a shrub border, or allowed to naturalize in an open wooded garden. In tighter spaces it provides the perfect backdrop for low growing perennials and groundcovers. Its adaptability makes it suitable for the rain garden, as well. Either full sun or partial shade are best, and a wide variety of soil types are tolerated, including wet boggy soils.
This shrub is likely to be browsed by deer and rabbits. In areas where deer or rabbits are common, newly planted shrubs can be surrounded with a protective fence or netting until the branches are more developed.
Planting and Cultivation Notes
Aronia melanocarpa does not require cross-fertilization. Only one plant is require for abundant fruiting.
Native plants can be grown outside of their native range in the appropriate growing conditions. This map shows the native range, as well as the introduced range, of this species.
Plant Shipping Rates: for plant orders up to $50 the shipping amount is $9.95. For plant orders from $50.01 and over, the shipping rate is 20% of the total plant cost.
Fall plant-shipping begins on September 9, 2024. The last day to order your plants for fall shipment is September 29.
During checkout, you will be asked to choose a Shipping Week for your plant delivery, from the dates that are available. The week that you choose will be included in your order confirmation email. When your plants ship you will receive an email that includes your tracking information.
Our potted shrubs are between 1' and 2' high when shipped. The root is well developed and the plants have established branching. This shrub is in a one gallon (or #1) container, which is approximately 7" deep x 6.5" wide at the top.
Should this shrub be planted in spring or fall?
This shrub can be successfully planted in either spring or fall. See Tips for Planting in Fall for more informtation about planting perennials (including shrubs) in the fall. You may also be interested in How to Plant Shrubs, in our Resource & Guides pages.
What is the growth rate of black chokeberry?
Black Chokeberry has a moderate to slow growth rate. At only 4 - 6 feet high, a shrub will easily reach it's mature size within 5 years.
Is this shrub deer resistant?
This shrub is not deer resistant.
If you live in an area where deer are present, we recommend protecting any newly installed shrubs by surrounding them with a wire fencing cage, or a plastic netting to protect them from being browsed by deer and/or rabbits. Food sources can be scarce in the winter, and young shrubs are choice when when there are no tender perennials available. If you live in an urban area where there are no deer, you may have rabbits in your yard. Rabbits also browse young, newly planted shrubs when other plants are not available.
These shrubs are deer resistant: New Jersey Tea,Sweet Fern,Shrubby St. John's Wort,Carolina Rose,Purple Flowering Raspberry.
How deep do the roots of this shrub typically get when mature? And what is their structure like (e.g. woody or more fibrous)?
The roots of Black Chokeberry are woody. At maturity the depth of most of the root material is fairly close to the surface – only 1 foot deep. Two feet at the most. The width of the root material will reach the width of the crown and beyond.
How far and deep do the suckers spread? Could I put a barrier around the plant?
Black Chokeberry roots are shallow. Six inches deep, at the most. The spread is relatively slow and easy to control. The new plant shoots will be fairly close to the existing main trunk. The new shoots come up around 6" away from the main, and eventually form a multi-stemmed thicket. Black Chokeberry should not need a barrier and is very easy to maintain.
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