Family: Rosaceae (Rose)
Name: Photinia (Aronia) melanocarpa - Black Chokeberry
Pictures: Flower with Sphecodes - Sweat Bee (KMS Native Plants), Fruit (Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder) Fall Color (KMS Native Plants)
Bloom Time: April - May
Flower: White
Fruit: Black (Late Summer/Fall)
Soil Condition: Moist, Wet, Acidic, Well Drained
Light: Partial Shade, Sun
Height: 3-8' tall by 3-6' wide
Native Range: Northeastern North America including Long Island
Zone: 3 to 8
Photinia melanocarpa is a fantastic shrub with three seasons of interest and a must have for wildlife! In the spring, the flowers last for a good three weeks followed by black fruit in the late summer/fall. The berries may be used to make jams and jellies. The fall brings spectacular colors of red, orange and yellow. Black Chokeberry is self pollinating but does best when there's more than one. It is wonderful shrub to use as a hedge.
Maintenance: Spreads by suckers, remove with a sharp spade to control width. Tends to be leggy but planting native perennials in front of it will hide this.
Benefits: Minimal to moderate deer and rabbit resistance, tolerates some drought, nectar source, pollinators, host plant to Coral Hairstreak, birds and small mammals eat the fruit
Companion Plants: Vaccinium angustifolium - Lowbush Blueberry, Ilex glabra - Inkberry, Carex stricta - Tussock Sedge, Coreopsis rosea - Pink Tickseed
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