BLACK CHOKEBERRY

Aronia melanocarpa is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America, where it grows naturally in bogs, rocky uplands, and forest edges. In the garden it forms a tidy, multi-stemmed plant reaching four to six feet, bearing clusters of small white flowers in spring that give way to deep purple-black berries in late summer. The glossy foliage turns a vivid crimson in autumn, offering extended seasonal interest. Birds feed heavily on the fruit, and the berries are edible for humans as well — notably astringent fresh but well suited to preserves and juice.