Aronia melanocarpa

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)Rose Family This medium-size shrub is highly adaptable in the landscape. Its suckering nature makes it a great candidate for erosion control, natural hedges, or drainage easements. It can tolerate a wide range of soil and moisture conditions, but will produce the most fruit and have the best fall color in full sun. Early spring blooms are numerous, but short lived and are replaced by fruit that turn black when ripe in late fall/early winter. Fruits are considered a last resort for birds late in the season. Black chokeberries are considered to be among the highest sources of antioxidants found in fruit. While too astringent to eat raw, fruits can be frozen and dried to add to food, or made into jams. Blooms: White, 2-3 weeks, Apr-MayLeaves: Glossy, dark green leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange in the fallHeight: 3-6’ Space: 3-4’Soil: Moist-Average, occasionally flooded, fairly adaptableExposure:  Full sun-Part sun-Part shadeFauna: Bees