Black chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a shrub suited to the Colorado Front Range. It matures to about 3–6 ft tall and 4–8 ft wide, needs medium water, and prefers full sun to partial shade. Prefers acidic, evenly moist soil, develops chlorosis in our alkaline soils. Site in amended beds or skip in favor of native chokecherry (Prunus virginiana).
On the CSU listmedium water3–6 ft tall and 4–8 ft wideZones 2–3 (keep it back from the house)Deer-resistant
Photos
- Photo 1: "Aronia melanocarpa HabitusFruitsLeaves BotGardBln0906a" is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
- Photo 2: "Aronia melanocarpa fruit" by No machine-readable author provided. Goku122 assumed (based on copyright claims). is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
- Photo 3: manfred.sause@volloeko.de
- Photo 4: "Aronia melanocarpa cv Rubina P1020524" by manfred.sause@volloeko.de is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
- Photo 5: "800px-Aronia melanocarpa" by No machine-readable author provided. Puchatech K.~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/.
- Photo 6: "Aronia melanocarpa, Fairfax, 5-2-13" by FritzFlohrReynolds is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.
At a glance
Will it survive here?
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3–8
- Water needs
- medium water
- Sun
- Best in full sun; tolerates partial shade.
- Soil
- clay, loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–7.0
- Hail tolerance
- moderate
- Wind tolerance
- moderate
- Salt tolerance
- low
- Firewise (defensible space)
- Zones 2–3 (keep it back from the house)
How big, what shape?
- Mature size
- 3–6 ft tall and 4–8 ft wide
- Planting spacing
- ~8 ft apart (6 ft for a hedge/screen)
- Growth rate
- Moderate
What it looks like, and when
- Bloom time
- late spring
- Bloom color
- white
- Fall color
- Red, purple
- Foliage
- Deciduous
Who else benefits
- Pollinator value
- high
- Deer
- Generally deer-resistant
- Colorado native
- No
Things to know before you plant
- Messy dropIt drops messy fruit, pods, or litter, so keep it off patios, walks, and pool decks.
Planting & establishment
- Fruit: wildlife (birds/wildlife).
Frequently asked questions
- Is Black chokeberry good for the Colorado Front Range?
- Yes, Black chokeberry is a well-suited shrub for Colorado's Front Range.
- What should I know before planting Black chokeberry?
- The main things to know: It drops messy fruit, pods, or litter, so keep it off patios, walks, and pool decks.
- How big does Black chokeberry get?
- It matures to about 3–6 ft tall and 4–8 ft wide.
- How far apart do I plant Black chokeberry?
- Space Black chokeberry about 8 ft apart for a full, natural form, or about 6 ft apart for a faster hedge or screen.
- Is Black chokeberry hardy on the Front Range?
- Black chokeberry is hardy in USDA 3–8. The Colorado Front Range spans roughly USDA 4b–6a, so it is well within range.
- How much water does Black chokeberry need?
- It needs medium water once established.
- How fast does Black chokeberry grow?
- Black chokeberry is a moderate-growing shrub. Growth rate depends on water and site conditions on the Front Range.
- What color does Black chokeberry turn in fall?
- Black chokeberry turns red and purple in autumn. Fall color intensity varies with the season and site on the Front Range.
- Is Black chokeberry native to Colorado?
- No. It is not a Colorado native, but it grows well on the Front Range.
- Is Black chokeberry deer-resistant?
- Black chokeberry is generally considered deer-resistant, though no plant is deer-proof when browse pressure is high.
- Is Black chokeberry a good firewise plant near the house?
- Black chokeberry is suitable in defensible-space zones 2–3, best kept back from the house rather than in the area right against the structure. This is general suitability guidance based on CSU Extension firewise plant lists, not a guarantee that any plant won't burn, a well-irrigated, well-maintained plant is the goal. Follow CSU Extension defensible-space guidance and check with your local fire district before planting in the wildland-urban interface.
