Common Name: glossy black chokeberry
Scientific Name:
Family: Rosaceae
Genus: Aronia
Species: melanocarpa var. elata
Hardiness Zone: 3 to 9
Height: 5 to 7 ft
Width: 4 to 6 ft
Description:
Glossy black chokeberry is a native shrub with a rounded upright form. The glossy green foliage turns bright red and purple in the autumn. White flowers bloom in May. The berries are ripe in August when the fruit is a black color. The fruit will persist into winter and are eaten by birds. Any soil condition in full or partial sun will do for this shrub. It will sucker and create colonies, so pruning is required if you want a more formal hedge
The berries have 340% more antioxidants than blueberries! Harvest them for juices and jellies, add sugar because these fruits are bitter when fresh. The taste can be described as a dry red wine. Glossy black chokeberry has no major pests or diseases.
References:
Accessed online. https://www.naturehills.com/chokeberry-glossy-black. 19 July 2019
Accessed online. https://landscapeplants.oregonstate.edu/plants/aronia-melanocarpa. 29 July 2019
