Chokeberry (black chokeberry) |
| General |
| Common Name | Chokeberry (black chokeberry) |
| Latin Name | Aronia melanocarpa; (Photinia melanocarpa (Michx.) Robertson Phipps) |
| Category | Fruits |
| Family | |
| Variety | ery trade, Shannon and Indian have biggest fruit |
| Visual Traits |
| Flower | small, white; perfect, spring |
| Foliage/Fall leaf color | red |
| Fruit | red, ripening to purplish-black pome; fall |
| Height | 3-6 ft |
| Cultivation |
| Field spacing / planting depth | 4-6' (10' to max fruit production) |
| Propagation method | seed, cuttings, bare root, container, layering |
| Pruning | thin older stems infrequently |
| Seed harvest | fall, clean from fruit pulp |
| Seed treatment and storage | cold stratification 3months |
| Sowing seed | September |
| Transplant | transplants well; bare root in spring; container from spring to mid-summer |
| Watering guidelines | water during establishment |
| Critters |
| Pathogens | mildew if poor air circulation |
| Wildlife Pests | deer, rabbits |
| Soils |
| Fertility / quality | medium fertility |
| Moisture and drainage | wet to moist, well-drained; drought intolerant |
| pH | 4.0-7.0 |
| Soils and topography | wetland sites |
| Texture | coarse, medium, fine |
| Growth Pattern |
| Growth rate | moderate |
| Longevity | short |
| Root habit | finely fibrous |
| Habitat and Climate |
| Fire tolerance | moderately tolerant |
| Frost-free days (FFD) | 167 |
| Hardiness Zone | 3-8 (9) |
| Native Range | Great Lakes, Northeastern US, moist woods to dry thickets, cliffs |
| Rainfall / humidity | 15-33" |
| Light |
| Light recommendation | full sun |
| Shade tolerance | moderately tolerant |