Black chokeberry

Black chokecherry shrub with white flowers and green leaves — Upright form of 'Autumn Magic' black chokeberry

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is an adaptable shrub native to Minnesota with hardiness and wide tolerance to a variety of soil textures, densities, pH levels and moisture conditions.

Because of suckering and its tolerance to wet soils, this species is typically used in mass planting, in naturalized and woodland gardens, for erosion control, in windbreaks and in excessively wet soils.

Black chokeberry can also be used as an edible fruit crop although the fruit is too astringent to eat raw.

The high-antioxidant fruit is used in baking and to make jams, jellies, syrup, tea, juice and wine. Fruit can persist into winter and serves as a food source for birds and other wildlife.

In spring, it has showy white flower clusters. In autumn, leaves change from green to vibrant tones of red, orange and purple.

Cluster of dark black fruit of black chokecherry surrounding by foliage — Dark fruit of black chokeberry in fall

Description

Deciduous tree; it drops its leaves in fall
Height: 3 to 8 feet
Width: 2 to 6 feet
Upright, rounded plant form
Dark green glossy, finely-toothed 1 to 3-inch leaves
2- to 3-inch clusters of white flowers in spring have showy pink anthers
Clusters of ¼ to ½ inch fruit turn purplish-black or black in late summer and autumn

Growing black chokeberry

Hardiness zone: 3 to 8
Plant in full sun; tolerates partial shade
Best soil properties:
- Adaptable - sandy to clay soils
- Soil pH 5.1-6.5; tolerates higher
- Poorly-drained to well-drained; moist to wet soils
- Tolerant of salt and compacted soil

Common problems

In cultivated landscapes, where chokeberries have less competition and receive more fertility and care, they become strongly suckering plants.

Browsed by deer and rabbits.

Pests and stresses: None serious.

Visit What's wrong with my plant? – Chokeberry to diagnose common black chokeberry diseases and pests in Minnesota.

Cluster of white flowers of black chokecherry with pink anthers — White spring flowers of 'Autumn Magic' black chokeberry

Cultivated varieties of black chokeberry for Minnesota

Black chokeberry varieties have been selected for less suckering, compact growth, improved fruit yields and fall color.

‘Autumn Magic’ - compact habit, fall color, large abundant fruit clusters
var. Elata - fall color, large abundant fruit clusters, reduced suckering
Iroquois Beauty™ - compact habit, fall color
‘Viking’ - fall color, large abundant fruit clusters

Authors: Julie Weisenhorn, Extension educator, Beth Berlin and Kathy Zuzek

Reviewed in 2021