Black Chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

Pollinator Value

❄️ Winter Food Source: Persistent black berries (ripening Oct-Dec) consumed by Eastern Kingbird, Hermit Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, and Willow Ptarmigan. Fruit remains on branches into winter, providing a reliable late-season food source for overwintering and migrating birds.
S57 4 bird species at genus level; S29 fruit ripens Oct-Dec

Proximity Score: 0
Native Status: ✅ Outaouais ✅ Ottawa ✅ QC ✅ ON
Closest Direction: Local
CEC Eco-Regions: 5 – Northern Forests, 5.2 – Mixed Wood Shield, 5.2.3 – Algonquin/Southern Laurentians
Rarity Notes: Globally secure (G5) with national rank N5 in both Canada and the United States. Ranked S5 in both Ontario and Quebec. Not listed under SARA or COSEWIC.
S22 G5, N5 CA/US; S26 not SARA listed
Rarity Ranks: QC S5 – Secure, ON S5 – Secure
Migration: Stable
Ecological Context: Occupies swamps, bogs, fens, low woodlands, and rocky ledges across the mixed-wood shield. Tolerant of both saturated peatland soils and drier upland sites, forming small suckering colonies in open to semi-shaded conditions. Frequently associated with acidic wetland margins and boreal transitional habitats.
S61 bogs, fens, swamps, cliffs, woodlands; S29 swamps and low woodlands, drier soils; S63 uncommon in Ottawa-Hull

Roles: Fortress/Barrier, Insectary Plant, Pollinator Attractor, Shelterbelter, Water Purifier, Wildlife Habitat
S73/S29/S72 Evidence: Fortress/Barrier: S61 keyword match: thorns? (supporting signal only)] | Insectary Plant: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, appendix_a, pp. 82, 186)] | Pollinator Attractor: S73 [MEDIUM]: S68 15 bee associations (threshold=3)] | Shelterbelter: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, appendix_a, pp. 82, 186)] | Water Purifier: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, appendix_a, pp. 82, 186)] | Wildlife Habitat: S72 Hemenway (tables: 5-3, appendix_a, pp. 82, 186)]
Notes: Effective as a hedgerow or border planting in permaculture guilds, providing dense structure for privacy and wildlife shelter. Suckering habit creates living barriers. Flowers attract pollinators while persistent fruit supports overwintering birds. Tolerates wet to dry conditions, making it versatile in rain gardens and shoreline plantings.
S72 hedgerow, insectary, water purifier, wildlife habitat; S29 hedgerow, wildlife; S3 rain gardens, shoreline rehabilitation

Category: Antioxidant
S36 Health Canada NHPID monograph: Antioxidants
Notes: Health Canada lists Aronia melanocarpa as an approved herbal ingredient under the Antioxidants monograph (whole plant, dry or fresh preparations). Traditional use includes an infusion of the berries for treating colds. Modern research has highlighted high concentrations of anthocyanins and polyphenols.
S36 NHPID approved, Antioxidants monograph; S29 infusion of berries for colds

✅ Edible

Foraging Notes: Fruit edible cooked; very astringent when raw but develops good flavour after frost. Used historically for pemmican by Indigenous peoples and for jelly when sugar is added. Rich in pectin, making it useful as a thickening agent for jams. Fruit approximately 9 mm in diameter, borne in clusters.
S29 edibility rating 3/5, pectin-rich, pemmican, jelly