Black chokeberry : an adaptable shrub

Black chokeberry, or Aronia melanocarpa, is a hardy shrub that comes from Minnesota. It can grow well in many soil types, including different textures, pH levels, and moisture conditions. This shrub is good at sending up new shoots and tolerates wet soils easily.

Because of these qualities, it is often planted in large groups. It works well in natural and woodland gardens and helps control erosion. It is also used in windbreaks and on lands that stay very wet.

The berries of the black chokeberry are edible, but they are very astringent and aren’t tasty raw. They are rich in antioxidants and are often used in baking, making jams, jellies, syrup, tea, juice, and wine. The berries can stay on the plant into winter and provide food for birds and other animals.

In spring, the shrub produces attractive white flower clusters. In fall, the leaves change from green to bright shades of red, orange, and purple.

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