Black Chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

This small, multi-stemmed shrub, grows about 3-6 feet high. The leaves are a glossy green and turn to a stunning red in the fall. It produces 5 petaled white flowers, which bloom in May. The flowers, if pollinated, are followed by purple to black berries. Full sun will produce more fruit! It’s tolerant of many soil types, as well as tolerating both floods and droughts. The berries attract fruit eating birds, making it a beneficial addition for wildlife. In the wild, it’s often found in lowlands and bogs, but may also be found on drier uplands. Its berries are edible but a bit astringent to humans, giving it the name “chokeberry”.