Aronia melanocarpa - Black Chokeberry

Sizes available: Potted, rooted whips less than 3' in height

Basics: zone 3 to 8, 36-72" x 36-72", Full sun to part shade, white bloom in May followed by dark purple berry clusters and red fall foliage, adaptable as to soil type, but usually found in wetter areas. However, also found in drier upland sites, where its strong growth habit might be checked somewhat. 

Common names: Black Chokeberry

Family: Rosaceae

Origin/Distribution: Newfoundland west to Ontario and Minnesota, south to Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia, native to Maine. Has been introduced and grown extensively in Europe as a berry crop for wine and juice production. 

Habitat: Very adaptable and found in low, boggy spots and on swamp edges as well as in upland areas of relative dryness.

More: Berries attract birds (especially later in the season after they have frozen and thawed a few times). They also make good jelly and juice and are high in antioxidants. When it is just leafing out in spring, the branches look very good in flower arrangements. Chokeberry is a strong grower that spreads by root suckers. It can be controlled by pruning and does not need cross-pollination to fruit well. This is an attractive, easily grown shrub with great looking red fall foliage. It is salt tolerant. Excellent hedgerow shrub.

Nursery: whips from Cold Stream Farm, grown on at Honey Petal Plants since spring, 2025

Image credits: flowers by Linda N. via Creative Commons; berries by Randy Harter via Creative Commons - images downloaded through the North Carolina Extension Gardeners Plant Toolbox