Aronia melanocarpa #3 (Black Chokeberry)

Black Chokeberry is a native, multi-stemmed deciduous shrub that typically grows to heights of 6′, occasionally to 8′ in ideal conditions. It has a similar spread due to its suckering growth habit. Young plants commonly have a vase-shaped appearance that rounds out as they get more mature and thicken up from the base. In plantings that receive low levels of sunlight, the shrubs will sucker more vigorously (searching for the light) and tend to form clonal colonies if no action is taken to control the spread. This can be a desired effect in naturalized areas or on woodland margins. However, if the shrub is to be used as a specimen or accent plant, the suckers should be removed annually to restrict the size and shape. More sun exposure tends to slow down the spreading habit and makes it easier to maintain a tidy planting. This can be a great choice for large rain garden plantings as it is very adaptable to soil moisture levels. The fall foliage of Black Chokeberry is a gorgeous mix of dusky purple, burgundy and crimson.

The cheerful white flowers bloom in May with a sweet honey fragrance. Many pollinators are attracted to the flowers, particularly mason bees and Andrenid bees. Glossy, dark berries mature in fall. They are edible as well as one of the highest plant sources of anthocyanins, but so astringent that they earned the common name of Chokeberry. They can be made into juice, jelly, syrup, liqueur, and much more. Many birds will also use the berries as late-winter forage.

Sources:
Native Trees, Shrubs, & Vines by William Cullina
Manual of Woody Landscape Plants by Michael A. Dirr
Missouri Botanical Garden
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Illinois Wildflowers
National Library of Medicine
Grow Native! Salt-Tolerant Native Plants