Aronia

Aronia melonacarpa

Aronia, commonly known as chokeberry, and also known as aronia melanocarpa, pyrus melanocarpa, and photinia melanocarpa is an edible plant. A member of the Rose family, black chokeberry is a deciduous shrub which can grow to a height of 3 to 12 feet tall. The fine-toothed leaves are medium green and hairless, with raised glands along the top of the midrib. In spring, the bisexual flowers form clusters that are 2 to 2 ½ inches across. The five petals are white, with pink anthers.

Uses

• Landscaping: Black chokeberry is a deciduous, coldhardy shrub useful in landscape plantings, showing white flowers in the spring and colorful red foliage and heavy, dark fruit in the fall. Wildlife: Plants are browsed by white-tailed deer and rabbits. The fruit are eaten by ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens.
• Economic: Aronia berries can be canned whole or the juice extracted for jelly making, as well as healthful fruit drinks.
• The juice contains high levels of anthocyanins (source of red color) and flavonoids. The strong, stable natural color is useful in the food industry.
• This plant is extensively grown in Europe, where yields of up to 38 pounds of fruit per bush have been reported.

Distribution

Black chokeberry is native to the Great Lakes region and the Northeastern U.S., with a southerly extension into the higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains. It is hardy to zone 3. For current distribution, please consult the Plant Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

Habitat

Moist woods, but also occurs in drier thickets or clearings on bluffs or cliffs. Adaptation The black chokeberry grows well in full sunlight, but is moderately tolerant of shade. The best growth and fruit production occurs on low moist but well-drained sites, in full sun. It is not drought-tolerant. New shoots will grow up around established plants, filling in the space between plants like a hedgerow. Some of these shoots are the result of layering.

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