How to Grow and Care for Black Chokeberry

It grows in an upright and fairly rounded shape.

Black chokeberry has a slow to moderate growth rate and can be planted in the fall or spring.

Black Chokeberry Care

This shrub is highly adaptable and hardy.

It can grow well in both moist and dry locations.

Ideally the soil pH should be acidic, but it can also grow in alkaline soil.

And while it prefers soil that drains well, it is also tolerant of boggy soil.

It also generally doesn’t have any major problems with pests or diseases.

Plan to water during dry spells and prune annually to maintain its shape.

A virtue of this shrub is how adaptable it is to a wide range of soils.

Black chokeberry has moderate water needs.

It can tolerate both the occasional drought and occasional flooding.

It flowers fairly late in the spring and thus avoids frost.

Black chokeberry likely won’t need supplemental fertilization unless you have nutrient-deficient soil.

Then, each spring apply a light layer of compost for continued healthy growth.

Also, remove any dead, damaged, or diseased portions of the shrub as you spot them.

It is also the only way to propagate a cultivar and get plants that are true to the parent.

For these reasons, propagating black chokeberry from seed is not recommended.

Fill it with lightweight potting mix combined with a few handfuls of compost.

As a native plant, black chokeberry is well adapted to winters in its growth range.

Pruning should be done soon after the shrub has finished flowering.

Native bees, especially mason bees, feed on the nectar and pollen of chokeberry.

It is also a host plant for butterflies, moths, and songbirds.

University of Maryland Extension.