black chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa (black chokeberry) is a species of shrub in the Rosaceae family. Native to North America, A. melanocarpa has glossy dark green leaves, and produces clusters of black berries in the fall.

It produces the most fruit when grown in full sun. This shrub will grow between 3 and 6 feet tall, and exhibits a pleasing vase-like growth habit. As is characteristic of members of the Rose family, A. melanocarpa has clusters of five petaled white flowers that bloom in May. While fruit is edible it is so bitter and tart that most people “choke” on it, thus the common name chokeberry. The berries are rich in antioxidants though and are favored by over-wintering birds such as cardinals.