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Photinia melanocarpa (Michx.) Robertson & Phipps

Black chokeberry

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonyms: Aronia melanocarpa, Pyrus melonocarpa

USDA Symbol: PHME13

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A small, mound-shaped shrub with slender, multiple stems and reddish-brown bark. Glossy, dark green foliage turns crimson-red in fall. Flat-topped clusters of white, five-petaled flowers with pink anthers are followed by persisent, blackish-purple berries. 3-6 ft. tall.

 

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Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Size Class: 6-12 ft.
Fruit Type: Berry
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit Color: Black, Purple

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May

Distribution

USA: AL , AR , CT , DE , GA , IL , IN , IA , KY , ME , MD , MA , MI , MN , MS , MO , NH , NJ , NY , NC , OH , PA , RI , SC , TN , VT , VA , WV , WI , DC
Canada: NB , NS , PE , QC
Native Distribution: Nf. to MN, s. to GA mts., TN & AR
Native Habitat: Lowlands; bogs; dunes; bluffs
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Soil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)
Soil Description: Moist, acid soils.
Conditions Comments: Very flood tolerant. Suckers profusely. No serious disease or insect problems.

Benefit

Use Wildlife: Intermediate food source for birds.
Attracts: Birds

Propagation

Description: Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings. Softwood cuttings root without hormone treatment.
Seed Collection: To avoid loss of fruits to birds, pick the fruits as soon as they ripen. Seeds may be removed immediately and dried or the fruits may be dried with seeds inside.
Seed Treatment: 120 days of cold-moist stratification will break seed dormancy.
Commercially Avail: yes
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PlantWise: Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants

Photinia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry) is a PlantWise native alternative for:

   Euonymus alatus (burningbush)
   Frangula alnus (glossy buckthorn)
   Ligustrum amurense (Amur privet)
   Ligustrum japonicum (Japanese privet)
   Ligustrum lucidum (glossy privet)
   Ligustrum obtusifolium (border privet)
   Ligustrum ovalifolium (California privet)
   Ligustrum sinense (Chinese privet)
   Ligustrum vulgare (European privet)
   Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle)
   Lonicera morrowii (Morrow's honeysuckle)
   Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)
   Lonicera xylosteum (dwarf honeysuckle)
   Rhamnus cathartica (common buckthorn)
   Viburnum dilatatum (linden arrowwood)
   Viburnum lentago (nannyberry)
   Viburnum plicatum (Japanese snowball)
   Viburnum sieboldii (Siebold's arrowwood)

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Question: Hi...Can you please identfy the tall, evergreen shrub with purple plum-colored foliage that I have noticed in winter locally?...Hope so, need he color! THX
click here to view the full question and answer

* Available Online from Wildflower Center Store

Bibliography

* Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Photinia melanocarpa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Photinia melanocarpa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Photinia melanocarpa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

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