Aronia melanocarpa 'Viking' (Black Chokeberry)

Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’ is a cultivar of black chokeberry, a medium to large-sized shrub typically found in forest understories through much of the eastern half of the United States. Though originally native to the United States, the ‘Viking’ cultivar was developed in Europe for use as an orchard plant, and was selected for its profuse fruit production and compact size. Black chokeberry is named for its fall-fruiting glossy black berries, which are tart, bitter, and astringent; although the berries' taste when raw may not be conventionally sought after, the berries are well-regarded as an herbal supplement for the berries' antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and for their use in jams and pies.

Beyond its beautiful, bird-attracting berries, ‘Viking’ chokeberry is also well-regarded for its profuse production of 5-petaled white flowers which bloom from early to mid-spring and attract a wide variety of pollinators; in the fall, ‘Viking’ is additionally well-regarded for its attractive autumn foliage in shades of brilliant red and purple. Aronia melanocarpa ‘Viking’ typically grows to about 3-6' tall and wide, making it versatile and compact enough for a variety of partial shade woodland gardens and full sun specimen plantings. Preferring moist to wet fertile soils, black chokeberry is tolerant of flooding and compacted, heavy soils, and is fairly low maintenance over time, making it an excellent addition to the landscape for both the novice gardener, and the experienced orchard keeper.