Aronia melanocarpa (Black chokeberry)

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Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott

Black chokeberry

Black chokeberry is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America.

Plants: Shrubs are 3–10′ (91–304 cm) high and 3–6′ (91–182 cm) around.

Leaves: Glossy, elliptic to obovate, finely toothed, 1–3½ ⨉ ½–1¾″ (3–9 ⨉ 1.5–5 cm). Leaves turn bright red in the fall.

Flowers: Clusters of 5-6 white flowers. Each flower has five petals. Flowers appear in May.

Fruits: Produces large clusters of shiny deep purple or black berries. Berries are ⅛–¼″ (5–7.6 mm) in size.

Habitats: Wet areas.

Edibility: Edible, but extremely tart, hence the common name “chokeberry.” Nothing enough sugar cannot cure.

Medical: This has been actively researched for at least 15 years, for its hepatoprotective (liver-protective), gastroprotective, and anti-inflammatory effects. It shows bacteriostatic activity in vitro against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and an antiviral activity against Type A influenza. It also shows promise against breast cancer.

Online References:

The Missouri Botanical Garden

Go Botany

Wikipedia

Aronia arbutifolia (L.) Pers. var. nigra (Willd.) Seymour
Aronia nigra (Willd.) Koehne
Mespilus arbutifolia L. var. melanocarpa Michx.
Photinia melanocarpa (Michx.) K.R. Robertson & Phipps
Pyrus arbutifolia (L.) L. f. var. nigra Willd.
Pyrus melanocarpa (Michx.) Willd.
Sorbus melanocarpa (Michx.) Heynh.

9/7/2021 · Kennebec River Bridge, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (10 × 6.7 cm)

The red spots may be Entomosporium leaf spot (Diplocarpon mespili) · 8/3/2025 · Saco Heath Preserve, Saco, Maine · ≈ 3½ × 2½″ (9.7 × 6.6 cm) ID is uncertain

5/28/2021 · Brunswick Commons, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (10 × 6.7 cm)

5/28/2023 · Giant’s Stairs, Bailey Island, Maine

9/7/2021 · Kennebec River Bridge, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3″ (12 × 8.4 cm)

5/28/2023 · Giant’s Stairs, Bailey Island, Maine

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

8/8/2015 · Mt. Wachusett · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 14 cm)

9/7/2021 · Kennebec River Bridge, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 6″ (11 × 14 cm)

The red spots may be Entomosporium leaf spot (Diplocarpon mespili) · 8/3/2025 · Saco Heath Preserve, Saco, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm) ID is uncertain

5/28/2021 · Brunswick Commons, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 2½ × 3″ (7.3 × 7.7 cm)

5/28/2021 · Brunswick Commons, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4½″ (14 × 11 cm)

5/18/2013 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 4½ × 6″ (12 × 14 cm)

9/7/2021 · Kennebec River Bridge, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm)

5/28/2023 · Giant’s Stairs, Bailey Island, Maine

5/18/2013 · Oak Hill, Littleton Conservation Land, Littleton, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (18 × 12 cm)

9/7/2021 · Kennebec River Bridge, Bowdoinham, Maine · ≈ 7 × 4½″ (16 × 11 cm)

6/9/2016 · Monhegan Island, Maine

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin)
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Rosidae	Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more
Order	Rosales	Rose family and eight others
Family	Rosaceae	Includes apples, apricots, plums, cherries, peaches, pears, raspberries, strawberries, almonds, roses, meadowsweets, photinias, firethorns, rowans, and hawthorns; many others
Genus	Aronia	From the Greek aria, which is the specific epithet of a mountain ash (Sorbus aria) which has similar fruit
Species	melanocarpa	From melano, “black,” and carpa, “fruit”

About plant names...

Range: Zones 3-8:

About this map...

Aronia melanocarpa description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.