Representative illustration

Black chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

Check your plant’s identity

Does the label say Aronia melanocarpa or black chokeberry? It is a suckering shrub with glossy, finely toothed leaves and clusters of shiny black berries. Red chokeberry has red fruit, and chokecherry is a different, toxic plant. If the label is missing, choose I'm not sure.

Important precautions

The berries are edible but very sour and astringent raw; NC State warns raw berries may cause choking. RHS marks this plant as potentially harmful without naming a part. No veterinary listing for this plant was found, so keep pets from eating it. Do not confuse it with chokecherry, a different plant whose leaves, stems and seeds are toxic.

Care guidance is partial and depends on your growing conditions. Check the available guidance in the app; this profile does not promise complete care. A representative illustration does not confirm your plant’s identity.