Species black chokeberry
black fruits with green leaves and brown branches

black chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed'

Also Known As - Chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed' is an amazing plant species due to its versatility and ease of care. Its dense, upright habit makes it suitable for use as a shrub border or hedge. The deep black fruits are tart when raw, but make a delicious jelly or jam when cooked. It also features attractive, small white flowers in the spring and yellow-orange leaves in the fall. This plant does best in wet soils, but is tolerant of a range of soil conditions and can even tolerate some drought. Given its hardy nature and attractive fruits, it's no wonder why Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed' is such an outstanding choice for landscaping!

Cycle:

Perennial

Watering:

Frequent

Propagation:

Seed Propagation,Greenwood Cuttings,Greenwood Cuttings

Hardiness Zone:

3 - 8

Flowers:

White Flowers

Sun:

Sun, Partial Shade

Soil:

Sandy Clay Rocky

Fruits:

purple,black Fruits In Autumn Ready In

Edible:

Yes

Leaf:

Yes

Leaf Color:

green,red,purple

Growth Rate:

Moderate

Maintenance:

Low

Drought Tolerant:

Yes

Thorny:

Yes

Care Level:

Medium

watering

Water your black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed') once a week in the summer and every 2 to 3 weeks in the winter. Water deeply, saturating the soil until water begins to come out of the bottom of the pot. Avoid overwatering by only adding water if the upper 2 inches (5 cm) of soil feels dry. During prolonged periods of extreme hot weather, water more often to ensure adequate soil moisture.

sunlight

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed') prefers full sun, meaning 6 to 8 hours of sunlight each day. This is the optimum amount for this plant species; any less can result in poor growth and bloom production. During the summer months, this plant prefers sustained direct sunlight, but during spring and fall it can benefit from some light protection from the harsh summer sun. For this reason, it's important to choose a planting location carefully, making sure it will receive the desired amount of sunlight.

pruning

Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed' should be pruned annually in early spring or late winter, before new growth appears. Focus on removing any diseased, dead, or damaged branches, as well as any crossing branches. In addition, thin out shoots (no more than 1-third of the branches) to create an open clump shape and to promote air circulation. Non-fruiting branches may be removed to encourage larger fruit size. Lastly, any suckers at the base of the plant should be removed.

Season

Fall
Winter
Spring
Summer
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed' is typically in late August or early September.

Starts Flowering

Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed' typically starts flowering in late April or early May.

Harvest Fruit

The best time to start harvesting the fruits from Aronia melanocarpa 'Professor Ed' is typically in late August or early September.

Hardiness Map