Black Chokeberry

The Black Chokeberry, or Aronia melanocarpa, is an adaptable shrub with three seasons of color and texture. Clusters of white flowers bloom in May. The five-petaled blooms turn into blue-black edible berries by late summer or early fall. Glossy dark green foliage gives the shrub a full appearance and turns reddish-purple by fall. This shrub has an upright growth habit with an open and spreading form. Feature this deciduous shrub in a mixed hedge, wildlife border, or a showy mass planting. Plant it along a pond or stream because Black Chokeberry can handle damp conditions. Grow this North American native in zones 3 through 8. Black Chokeberry Care Plant Black Chokeberry in full sun in rich, moist, well-drained soil with an acidic pH. Black Chokeberry is adaptable and can handle floods or drought to some degree, but not for a prolonged period. Water Black Chokeberry during an extended dry period. Apply a layer of organic mulch around the base of the shrub to retain moisture and give the plant a nutritional boost. Shape the bush as needed after the flowers fade. Remove suckers as they emerge to direct energy into the shrub. Black Chokeberry Spacing Mature Black Chokeberry shrubs stand 3 to 6 feet tall and wide. Space plants 3 to 6 feet apart when creating a dense, continuous row.