Elata Black Chokeberry

Elata is associated with the taller form of black chokeberry, Aronia melanocarpa. Like the species, it is a deciduous shrub with white spring flowers, dark persistent fruit, and foliage that colors in autumn; allow for a larger and less uniform outline than compact named selections. ## Identity and form The catalog identifies the row as “Elata.” Botanical references use *Aronia melanocarpa* var. *elata* for this form, while [Kew Plants of the World Online](https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:20140-2) treats that botanical name as a synonym of *A. melanocarpa*. A [Colorado State University arboretum evaluation](https://agsci.colostate.edu/landscapeplants/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2015/08/2013-CSU-Arboretum-Report.pdf) recorded one nursery specimen at 8–12 feet tall and 7–10 feet wide, while the [current wholesale catalog](https://www.wilsonsnurseryinc.com/catalog2026.pdf) describes glossy black chokeberry as 4–6 feet high. This variation supports retaining the existing catalog dimensions as a plausible smaller landscape-grown size, with mature size treated as variable. ## Siting Black chokeberry grows in full sun to partial shade and adapts to moist, well-drained soil as well as wetter sites. White flowers appear in spring and black fruits can persist into winter. The species’ upright, suckering habit may gradually create a colony, so use it in a shrub border, naturalized planting, or wildlife area with room for spread. ## Maintenance Water during establishment and extended dry spells. Remove root suckers when they extend beyond the intended planting area; otherwise, little shaping is needed. Prune selectively to remove dead or congested stems after the main seasonal display.