Fauna
Plant

Black Chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

Also known as Glossy Black Chokeberry

Black chokeberry is a hardy, multistemmed deciduous shrub renowned for its clusters of white five-petaled spring blossoms and deep purple-black autumn pome fruits. Its glossy dark green foliage shifts to brilliant shades of crimson and orange before dropping in late autumn, providing high-contrast seasonal color across wet meadows and forest borders. The persistent fruits remain attached well into winter, offering a critical late-season food reserve for overwintering songbirds after softening through repeated frosts.

Native ShrubDeciduousFlowering Shrub
Black Chokeberry reference1 / 7
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyAutotroph (Photosynthesis)
Predators
  • White-tailed Deer
  • Cedar Waxwing
  • American Robin
ThreatsWetland drainage, development, and competition from non-native invasive shrubs
HabitatsBogs, wet thickets, swamp borders, rocky barrens, and forest clearings
Life span20–40 years
Classification
  1. OrderRosales
  2. FamilyRosaceae
  3. GenusAronia
  4. SpeciesAronia melanocarpa
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Wild berries have toxic look-alikes; never eat based on app identification alone.
Responsible observation
  • Winter Identification: Look for small, raised dark glands lining the upper midrib of dried leaves or twig scars.
  • Pollinator Watching: Visit flowering clusters on warm sunny mornings to spot diverse native solitary bees.
Related species
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