Aronia melanocarpa – Black chokeberry

COMMON NAME: Black chokeberry
SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aronia melanocarpa, also Pyrus melanocarpa – pyrus is the classical
name of the pear tree, black-fruited.
FLOWER COLOR: Light pink to white
BLOOMING PERIOD: early to mid-May
SIZE: open, upright, spreading, somewhat rounded, multi-stemmed shrub 3 to 6 feet
tall
BEHAVIOR: Moderate to rapid growth rate. Can form large colonies and spread. It
may be trained as a hedge.
SITE REQUIREMENTS: Tolerant of wet to moderate soils. May develop iron chlorosis
(yellowing of leaves from iron deficiency) on very dry sites. Does best in full sun.
NATURAL RANGE: Found throughout the eastern U.S. and adjacent southern Canada
west to Minnesota and south to South Carolina and Tennessee. It is found throughout
Wisconsin except in Door County.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Flowers are attractive although not showy. The fruit is purplishblack and persistent from September through December. It is eaten by birds, but left
until after more desirable species have been consumed. Fall foliage color can be an
excellent red, especially in exposed locations.
SUGGESTED CARE: Water well during the first season and protect from rabbits.
COMPANION PLANTS: Dwarf birch, grass pink orchid, cinnamon and royal ferns,
steeple bush, speckled alder, marsh milkweed, wild straw