Professor Ed Black Chokeberry

Professor Ed is a compact, deciduous selection of black chokeberry with a dense shrub form, white spring flowers, glossy green leaves, and dark berries. It typically grows about 3–4 feet tall and wide, with orange-red fall foliage; the USDA lists the cultivar as a clonal selection collected in New Hampshire. ## Seasonal display and placement Use this shrub in a small garden, mixed border, informal hedge, or naturalized planting. Its clusters of white flowers appear in spring, followed by black, tart fruit in autumn. The berries are edible when cooked, though their raw astringency is strong, and may also be eaten by birds. Fall color adds a warm red-orange finish before the leaves drop. ## Siting and soil Plant in full sun or part shade. The André Briant profile reports tolerance of wet soils and full sun or part shade; avoid assuming it requires constantly wet soil. The cultivar is generally reported hardy in zones 3–8, though local exposure and establishment affect performance. Leave room for root suckers if naturalizing, or remove them when a more defined outline is wanted. ### Sources [USDA GRIN accession record](https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/accessiondetail?id=1931457) · [André Briant cultivar profile](https://andre-briant.fr/en/variety-range/access-to-varieties/deciduous-shrubs/3638-aronia-melanocarpa-professor-ed-.html) ## Maintenance Water during establishment and prolonged dry spells. Prune after flowering if shaping is needed; remove root suckers to limit spread where a compact shrub outline is preferred.