Aronia 'Nero' (black chokeberry)
Aronia melanocarpa 'Nero' · Rosaceae
| Type | shrub (shrub layer) |
|---|---|
| Mature size | 8 ft tall × 6 ft wide |
| Sun | FS, PS (full sun to part shade) |
| Water | L, M (low to moderate) |
| Deer resistance | high |
| Drought tolerance | high |
| Hardiness | 3-7 |
| Maintenance | low |
| Edible | yes |
| Nitrogen fixing | no |
| Bloom | May |
| Harvest | Aug, Sep |
| Expected yield | 12 lb/yr |
| Source | TreeYo ($19) |
Planning price
$19.00 per plant listed
treeyo · Aronia - Nero
On the CPI 2026 list. Very deer resistant.
Design notes
Excellent deer resistance, glossy foliage, orange-red autumn colour, tart but very usable berries. BR (bareroot) XL available at $49.
Historic uses
Native American use of chokeberry for colds and fever; modern research on anthocyanins for blood sugar.
Scoring
| Ornamental | 8/10 |
|---|---|
| Disease resistance | 9/10 |
| Sweetness of harvest | 6/10 |
| Complexity of care | 8/10 |
| Medicinal value | 6/10 |
Shared plant library
These records are stored once at /home/chris/.gardenway/plant-library.json and
reused by every design and project on this machine, so the same species does not have
to be researched again.
Where this is used
| Draft | Zone | Qty | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draft 1 - Balanced Food Forest | C | 2 | The berry bushes the owner asked for, mid-zone, within reach of the porch. |
| Draft 2 - Deer-Proof Berries and Kitchen Herbs | A | 3 | Second aronia row on the house side. |
| Draft 2 - Deer-Proof Berries and Kitchen Herbs | C | 2 | Berry shrubs in the middle of the zone, as the owner asked. |
| Draft 3 - Native Woodland Garden | A | 2 | Chokeberry for berries and structure. |