Bloomipedia
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)
Photo: T. Hammer via iNaturalist · CC BY 4.0 · resized

Flowering shrub

Black chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a shrub in the Rosaceae family, native in the lower 48 states, blooming mostly May–June across the U.S.

🌷 Flowering shrubNative in the lower 48

Black chokeberry is a popular flowering shrub. It's on our flower lists for 40 states, and across the U.S. it's most often seen in bloom in May–June.

29states where USDA records it
40Bloomipedia state lists include it
3,391U.S. sightings*

*iNaturalist research-grade observations, as of October 23, 2026. Our state lists also include states where people grow it in gardens, so they can outnumber USDA's wild-plant records. Planted garden shrubs are mostly excluded from research grade.

On our lists for: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Quick look

Aronia melanocarpa, called the black chokeberry, is a species of shrubs in the rose family native to eastern North America, ranging from Canada to the central United States, from Newfoundland west to Ontario and Minnesota, south as far as Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia. This plant has been introduced and is cultivated in Europe.

  • It belongs to the Rosaceae family. iNaturalist
  • USDA PLANTS describes it as a shrub with a perennial life cycle. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists it as native in the lower 48 states and records it in 29 states. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists its flower color as white. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS gives its bloom period as spring. USDA PLANTS
  • USDA PLANTS lists a mature height of about 6 ft. USDA PLANTS
  • iNaturalist has 519 research-grade sightings of it in New York, ranking #111 among the 193 flowers on our New York list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 413 research-grade sightings of it in Maine, ranking #104 among the 160 flowers on our Maine list. iNaturalist
  • iNaturalist has 316 research-grade sightings of it in Massachusetts, ranking #111 among the 188 flowers on our Massachusetts list. iNaturalist

When does it bloom?

Flowering records by month across the U.S. (iNaturalist research-grade observations marked “Flowering”) (230 records)
Bloom time in the 40 states whose Bloomipedia list includes it
StateTypePeak bloomSightings*
New York🌷 Gardenfew records (31)519
Maine🌷 Gardenfew records (37)413
Massachusetts🌷 Gardenfew records (24)316
Wisconsin🌷 Gardenfew records (16)286
Minnesota🌷 Gardenfew records (4)269
Michigan🌷 Gardenfew records (8)197
New Hampshire🌷 Gardenfew records (23)196
Illinois🌷 Gardenfew records (4)164
Pennsylvania🌷 Gardenfew records (5)149
Vermont🌷 Gardenfew records (38)136
Ohio🌷 Gardenfew records (4)118
West Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (8)84
Connecticut🌷 Gardenfew records (4)78
New Jersey🌷 Gardenfew records (4)77
Virginia🌷 Gardenfew records (4)63
Maryland🌷 Gardenfew records (3)46
Indiana🌷 Gardenno flowering records38
North Carolina🌷 Gardenfew records (6)38
Rhode Island🌷 Gardenno flowering records36
Missouri🌷 Gardenfew records (1)34
Tennessee🌷 Gardenfew records (2)25
Kentucky🌷 Gardenfew records (3)23
Alabama🌷 Gardenno flowering records17
Washington🌷 Gardenno flowering records12
Nebraska🌷 Gardenno flowering records11
Colorado🌷 Gardenno flowering records9
Iowa🌷 Gardenno flowering records6
Oregon🌷 Gardenno flowering records6
Alaska🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Georgia🌷 Gardenfew records (1)2
Kansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Montana🌷 Gardenno flowering records2
Arkansas🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
California🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Idaho🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
North Dakota🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
Oklahoma🌷 Gardenno flowering records1
New Mexico🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Texas🌷 Gardenno flowering records0
Utah🌷 Gardenno flowering records0

Conservation status

Federal (U.S. ESA)
Not listed No U.S. Endangered Species Act listing in the USFWS ECOS database. USFWS ECOS
NatureServe global
G5 Secure worldwide. NatureServe
State rare plant lists
Not listed Not on the official rare plant list in 26 of our 40 states.
See each state
New York
Not listed Not on New York protected native plants (6 NYCRR § 193.3). NatureServe: S5, secure in New York. 6 NYCRR § 193.3
Maine
Not listed Not on Maine Rare Plant List (Maine Natural Areas Program, 2021). E and T are Maine's official endangered and threatened plants (12 M.R.S.); SC and PE are tracking categories. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maine. Maine rare plant list
Massachusetts
Not listed Not on Massachusetts Endangered Species Act list (321 CMR 10.90). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Massachusetts. MESA list
Wisconsin
Not listed Not on Wisconsin endangered and threatened species list (Wis. Admin. Code NR 27.03). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Wisconsin. NR 27.03
Minnesota
Not listed Not on Minnesota endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Minn. R. 6134.0300). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Minnesota. Minn. R. 6134.0300
Michigan
Not listed Not on Michigan endangered and threatened plants (Mich. Admin. Code R 299.1028, eff. March 20, 2023). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Michigan. R 299.1028
New Hampshire
Not listed Not on New Hampshire Official Rare Plants List (Ncr 312, eff. Jan 1, 2020). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in New Hampshire. NH Ncr 312
Illinois
Not listed Not on Illinois List of Endangered and Threatened Flora (17 Ill. Adm. Code 1050), per the Endangered Species Protection Board's 2025 checklist. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Illinois. IL E&T checklist 2025
Pennsylvania
Not listed Not on Pennsylvania classified native plants (17 Pa. Code Ch. 45, Subchapter B, as amended 2023). NatureServe: S5, secure in Pennsylvania. 17 Pa. Code Ch. 45
Vermont
Not listed Not on Endangered and Threatened Plants of Vermont (10 V.S.A. chap. 123; list of Feb 10, 2022). NatureServe: S5, secure in Vermont. Vermont E&T list
Ohio
Not listed Not on Ohio endangered and threatened plants (Ohio Adm. Code 1501:18-1-03, eff. Dec. 26, 2024). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Ohio. OAC 1501:18-1-03
Connecticut
Not listed Not on Connecticut Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern Plants (RCSA 26-306; 2015 list). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Connecticut. CT E/T/SC list
New Jersey
Not listed Not on New Jersey Endangered Plant Species List (N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1). NatureServe: S5, secure in New Jersey. N.J.A.C. 7:5C-5.1
Virginia
Not listed Not on Virginia endangered and threatened plant and insect species (2VAC5-320-10). NatureServe: S5, secure in Virginia. 2VAC5-320-10
Maryland
Not listed Not on Maryland threatened and endangered plants (COMAR 08.03.08.05, .06 and .08). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Maryland. COMAR 08.03.08
North Carolina
Not listed Not on North Carolina Protected Plant Species List (02 NCAC 48F .0301). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in North Carolina. 02 NCAC 48F .0301
Rhode Island
Not listed Not on Rhode Island Rare Plants 2016 (RI Natural History Survey, from the RI Wildlife Action Plan; informational, Rhode Island has no state plant-protection listing law). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Rhode Island. RI rare plants 2016
Missouri
Not listed Not on Missouri Wildlife Code endangered species (3 CSR 10-4.111), plants. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Missouri. 3 CSR 10-4.111
Tennessee
Not listed Not on Tennessee endangered plants (Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0400-06-02-.04, Rare Plant Protection and Conservation Act). NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Tennessee. TN rule 0400-06-02-.04
Kentucky
Not listed Not on Kentucky endangered and threatened plant lists (400 KAR 3:040, eff. 2026). NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in Kentucky. 400 KAR 3:040
Nebraska
Not listed Not on Nebraska threatened and endangered species (163 Neb. Admin. Code ch. 4, § 004). NatureServe has no Nebraska rank for it. 163 NAC 4-004
Oregon
Not listed Not on Oregon endangered and threatened plants (OAR 603-073-0070). NatureServe has no Oregon rank for it. OAR 603-073-0070
Georgia
Not listed Not on Georgia protected plants (Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 391-4-10-.09; a 2026 update is proposed). NatureServe: S3, vulnerable in Georgia. Ga. R. 391-4-10-.09
California
Not listed Not on California state-listed endangered, threatened and rare plants (14 CCR § 670.2), per CDFW's CNDDB list (July 2026). NatureServe has no California rank for it. CNDDB listed plants (July 2026)
New Mexico
Not listed Not on New Mexico state endangered plant species (19.21.2.9 NMAC). NatureServe has no New Mexico rank for it. 19.21.2.9 NMAC
Texas
Not listed Not on Texas endangered and threatened plants (31 Tex. Admin. Code § 69.8), as listed by Texas Parks and Wildlife. NatureServe has no Texas rank for it. 31 TAC 69.8
West Virginia
No list West Virginia has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (only federally listed species are protected), so we show NatureServe's West Virginia ranks instead. NatureServe: S4, apparently secure in West Virginia.
Indiana
No list Indiana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the DNR keeps a rare plant list, but it isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Indiana ranks instead. NatureServe: SU, unrankable in Indiana.
Alabama
No list Alabama has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alabama ranks instead. NatureServe: SNR, not yet ranked in Alabama.
Washington
No list Washington has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants (the Washington Natural Heritage Program's rare plant list isn't regulatory), so we show NatureServe's Washington ranks instead. NatureServe has no Washington rank for it.
Colorado
No list Colorado has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Colorado ranks instead. NatureServe has no Colorado rank for it.
Iowa
State endangered On Iowa endangered, threatened and special concern plants (Iowa Admin. Code r. 571-77.3): state endangered. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Iowa. IAC 571-77.3
Alaska
No list Alaska has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Alaska ranks instead. NatureServe has no Alaska rank for it.
Kansas
No list Kansas's endangered and threatened list (K.A.R. 115-15-1) covers animals only, so we show NatureServe's Kansas ranks for plants. NatureServe has no Kansas rank for it.
Montana
No list Montana has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Montana ranks instead. NatureServe has no Montana rank for it.
Arkansas
No list Arkansas has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Arkansas ranks instead. NatureServe: S1, critically imperiled in Arkansas.
Idaho
No list Idaho has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Idaho ranks instead. NatureServe has no Idaho rank for it.
North Dakota
No list North Dakota has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's North Dakota ranks instead. NatureServe has no North Dakota rank for it.
Oklahoma
No list Oklahoma has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Oklahoma ranks instead. NatureServe has no Oklahoma rank for it.
Utah
No list Utah has no state law listing endangered or threatened plants, so we show NatureServe's Utah ranks instead. NatureServe has no Utah rank for it.
Rare elsewhere
Other states where NatureServe ranks it rare or missing: DE (SH), SC (S2). (S1 critically imperiled, S2 imperiled, SH possibly extirpated, SX presumed extirpated.)

Checked October 23, 2026. Rankings and lists can change, so follow the links for the latest.

Please leave it where it grows

Please don't pick or dig this flower: it's on Iowa's rare plant list (state endangered); NatureServe ranks it S3 in North Carolina, S1 in Missouri, S1 in Iowa, S3 in Georgia and S1 in Arkansas. IAC 571-77.3 NatureServe

Can you eat it?

For peopleEdible (per NC State Extension)

NC State Extension notes: “Fruits are edible but quite astringent, hence the common names, so make into jams or jellies.” NC State Extension

For petsNot well documented

It isn't on the ASPCA plant list, and NC State Extension doesn't flag it for pets.

Edible or not, please don't pick this one. See the note under Conservation status.

🌿 Never eat a wild plant unless you're certain of its ID; this isn't medical advice. Worried about a person? Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222. Worried about a pet? Call your vet.

Where does it grow?

USDA PLANTS records black chokeberry in 29 states plus Washington, D.C.

recorded by USDA PLANTS on our state lists not recorded

See the full list of states

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin; District of Columbia.

New York counties with USDA records: Albany, Bronx, Broome, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Clinton, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Dutchess, Erie, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Genesee, Hamilton, Herkimer, Kings, Lewis, Livingston, Madison, Monroe, Nassau, Oneida, Onondaga, Ontario, Orange, Oswego, Otsego, Putnam, Queens, Rensselaer, Richmond, Rockland, Saratoga, St. Lawrence, Steuben, Suffolk, Sullivan, Tioga, Ulster, Warren, Washington, Wayne, Westchester, Wyoming.

Maine counties with USDA records: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Cumberland, Franklin, Hancock, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Sagadahoc, Somerset, Waldo, Washington, York.

Massachusetts counties with USDA records: Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester.

Growing conditions

USDA PLANTS gives Black chokeberry a low shade tolerance and medium drought tolerance. It is rated for soil pH 4.4 to 6.5 and winter lows down to 24 °F.

Shade tolerance
Low
Drought tolerance
Medium
Soil textures it is adapted to
coarse, medium
Soil pH range
4.4 to 6.5
Minimum temperature tolerated
24 °F
Frost-free days needed (minimum)
88
Annual precipitation range
24 to 80 inches
Minimum root depth
24 inches
Lifespan
Short
Fruit or seed
Blue · Summer to Fall
Can be propagated by
cuttings

From the USDA PLANTS characteristics data for ARME6. USDA ratings are general guidance for the species, not a guarantee for your garden.

Names, range and relatives

Native status by region (USDA PLANTS): Canada: Native; Lower 48 states: Native.

Other scientific names (synonyms in USDA PLANTS): Aronia nigra, Photinia melanocarpa, Pyrus melanocarpa, Sorbus melanocarpa.

County records: USDA PLANTS lists it in 429 counties across 23 states; the most are in Pennsylvania (57), Virginia (53), New York (48).

Other Aronia on Bloomipedia (1): Red chokeberry.

More from the Rosaceae family (103 on Bloomipedia; most observed first): Roses (genus Rosa), Multiflora rose, Mock strawberry, Black cherry, Toyon, Thimbleberry, Wineberry, Black raspberry.

More New York flowers

Roses (genus Rosa) (Rosa)

Roses (genus Rosa)

Rosa

★ NY state flower🌷 Garden flower

🌼 Blooms in NY: May–July
Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Multiflora rose

Rosa multiflora

Introduced

🌼 Blooms in NY: May–June
Black cherry (Prunus serotina)

Black cherry

Prunus serotina

Native

🌼 Blooms in NY: May

Sources