Black Chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

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 …

More Detail
Plants 1 Gallon Pot
1+ $29.99 ea.
Availability: In stock
SKU
90850-GL
Cultural Details
Soil Type Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Moisture Dry, Medium, Moist
Sun Exposure Full Sun, Partial
Height 4' - 6'
Bloom Color White
Bloom Time May
Spacing 3' - 6'
Zones 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Root Type Fibrous
Benefits Birds, Pollinators

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.