Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)

An amazing small native shrub with gorgeous white flowers in May, glossy foliage and big juicy black berries in Fall. The birds enjoy the berries and pollinators, the flowers. The leaves turn bright red in Fall-offset with black berries - it is beautiful. Though astringent (hence the name) the berries are edible with a very high antioxidant content. Most people use them in baked goods, jams or leave them for the birds! They do sucker and eventually will form a hedge. If you don’t want a hedge this prune here and there - they are not hard to control.