Jesse Saylor
Family
Rosaceae
Botanical Name
ARONIA melanocarpa
Plant Common Name
Black Chokeberry, Black Chokecherry
General Description
Small, pretty white blossoms in spring, orangey fall color and dark purplish-black berries make black chokeberry a great shrub for naturalistic massed plantings. An upright deciduous shrub that suckers to form a thicket of twigs and leaves, it is native to the moist soils of the eastern United States and a thin sliver of southeastern Canada. Individual plants have a cluster of many, thin, dark brown stems that have a white, waxy, semi-flaky film on the smaller, reddish-brown twigs. It is slightly shorter and denser in habit than its cousin, red chokeberry (A. arbutifolia).
Clusters of small,five-petaled white flowers appear in late spring and may have hints of pink. Bees pollinate the blossoms to form dangling clusters of purple-black berries that contrast with the gold, orange and orange-red leaves in fall. The fruits linger well into winter, finally being devoured by birds when other more tasty foods are gone.
Perfect for full sun or partially shaded spots, black chokeberry is most prolific in moist, fertile, well-drained, acidic soils. However, it adapts to many soils and light exposures, and it will produce a sparser thicket if placed in drier or less humus-rich ground. Full sun guarantees best fruiting and brighter fall leaf color. Use it in naturalistic garden designs, or as an accent shrub in a mixed border. It works terrifically well as a riverbank stabilizer, or in any large-scale planting in which a billowing mass is needed, especially in roadside ditches or moist swales around paved lots. Consider using the cultivar 'Autumn Magic' if you enjoy seeing larger and longer lasting black fruits on a more compact plant, or 'Morton,' an even smaller plant perfect for small yards or spaces.
Characteristics
-
AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
-
USDA Hardiness Zone
3 - 8
-
Sunset Zone
A2, A3, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7
-
Plant Type
Shrub
-
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
-
Height
3'-6' / 0.9m - 1.8m
-
Width
5'-10' / 1.5m - 3.0m
-
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer
-
Native To
North America, United States, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Canada
Ornamental Features
-
Flower Interest
Showy
-
Bark Color Modifier
Multi-Color
-
Fragrant Flowers
Yes
-
Fragrant Fruit
No
-
Fragrant Foliage
No
-
Bark or Stem Fragrant
No
-
Repeat Bloomer
No
-
Showy Fruit
Yes
-
Edible Fruit
No
-
Showy Foliage
Yes
-
Evergreen
No
-
Showy Bark
No
Special Characteristics
-
Usage
Foundation, Mixed Border
-
Sharp or Has Thorns
No
-
Invasive
Sometimes
-
Self-Sowing
No
