Light Needs
Mature Height
Mature Spread
Growing Zones
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.
Black Chokeberry Plant Facts
Growing Conditions
- Hardiness ZonesGrowing Zones
- USDA Zones 9 to 11 (perennial); grown as an annual elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown indoors elsewhere (outdoors year-round); grown in containers elsewhere (grown as a seasonal crop)
- Sun Exposure
- Part Shade to Full Sun (3+ Hours Direct Sun)
- Mature Height
- 1-2 Feet
- Mature Spread
- 3-4 Feet
- Growth Habit
- , Climbing, Columnar, Dwarf, Spreading, Upright
- Water Needs
- Average
Flowers & Foliage
- Flower Colors
- , White
- Flower Description
- Clusters of small, five-petaled white flowers accented by contrastingly bright pink-to-red anthers
- Bloom Time
- Spring
- Blooms On
-
Old Wood
?
"Blooms on" tells you which stems produce flowers, which decides when it's safe to prune.
- New Wood: Flowers form on stems that grow this season. Prune in late winter or early spring without losing blooms.
- Old Wood: Flower buds form on last year's stems. Prune right after flowering. Pruning in fall or early spring removes next year's blooms.
- Both New and Old Wood: Blooms on last year's stems and again on new growth, so it flowers even after a hard winter or a mistimed pruning. Prune lightly after the first flush of blooms.
- When to Prune
- Right after flowering
- Foliage Color
- , Orange, Pink
- Foliage Description
- Green With Orange Tips
- Foliage Type
- , Deciduous, Variegated
- Seasonal Interest
- , Spring Flowering, Fall Interest, 4 Season Interest
Garden Benefits
Plant Overview
- Common Name
- Black Chokeberry
- Also Known As
- Black berried Aronia
- Botanical Name
- Aronia melanocarpa
Simple Plant Spacing Calculator
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons
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Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!