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Makin, Julie

Aronia melanocarpa

Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott

Black Chokeberry

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s): Aronia arbutifolia var. nigra, Aronia nigra, Photinia melanocarpa, Pyrus arbutifolia var. nigra, Pyrus melanocarpa, Sorbus melanocarpa

USDA Symbol: ARME6

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)

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 fruit. 3-6 ft. tall.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Pome
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Autumn Foliage: yes
Fruit: Black, Purple.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun
Bloom Notes: White to pinkish, with yellowish to pink to purplish red anthers.

Distribution

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

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

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Natural Biodiversity - Johnstown, PA
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 841 - Native Alternatives to Invasive Plants (2006) Burrell, C. C.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-09
Research By: TWC Staff

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