Viking Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is an upright growing native shrub that was selected in Europe for its fruit production. An attractive ornamental plant, its glossy green foliage turns a stunning red color in fall. It blooms in mid- to late spring with clusters of fragrant small white flowers that mature into blue-black berries that ripen in late summer. The berries can be eaten right off the bush and have a very high antioxidant content. The fruits can be also be used for juice, pies, and jellies or left on the shrub to provide food for birds and other wildlife. Use it as a hedge or mix it into the landscape to enhance its value as habitat for birds and pollinators.
