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Aronia melanocarpa

Black Chokeberry · Black Chokecherry

Family RosaceaeGenus Aronia

A flat cluster of small white five-petalled flowers with dark red anthers, among glossy dark leaves
FlowerSten PorseCC BY-SA 3.0

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
shrubPlants of the World Online
Habit
Perennial, ShrubPLANTS Database
Height
3-10 ft0.9-3 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
3-6 ft0.9-1.8 mExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Pink, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringPLANTS Database
Native range
Canada, lower 48 statesPLANTS Database
Hardiness zones
3-8Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), Sand, Shallow RockyExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, Moist, Occasionally Dry, Occasionally WetExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Watering
Drought tolerance: MediumPLANTS Database

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; PLANTS Database — USDA NRCS; Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension.

Worth knowing

  • Black chokeberry's raw fruit is astringent, but its flavor improves in recipes with added sugar. Native to eastern North America, it has been introduced to Europe and is cultivated there, and its leaves turn red in autumn. Wikipedia: Aronia melanocarpa

This source reports 7 treatments. All are shown.

Protocol 1

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around October 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on October 2, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  3. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  4. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

  5. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  6. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 18 months from start to step 6. Germination happens during step 6, in 10 days.

90% germination in 6–10 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 2

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around July 3, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on July 2, 2025.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  4. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  5. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  6. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  7. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

about 1.5 years from start to step 7. Germination happens during step 7, in 12 days.

71% germination in 4–12 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 3

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 24, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 23, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

    6 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: light

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 14 days.

60% germination in 14 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 4

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around September 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 2026.

  1. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in September; up in April.

No stated waiting before sowing. Then 210 days to germinate.

58% germination in 210 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 5

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Moderate Rated by us, not by the source.

Sow around March 2027 — a date the source gives, not one counted back from a May 3 last frost.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow outdoors and leave it

    Sown outdoors in March; up in March and April.

about 6 months from start to sowing. Germination time not stated; 21 days assumed.

43% germination.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 6

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty High Rated by us, not by the source.

Start around September 10, 2027 for a May 3 last frost. Too late for spring 2027 — that needed starting on September 9, 2026.

  1. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

    6 germinated in this phase.

  2. Cold moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 40°F 4°C

  3. Warm moist stratification

    Duration: 90 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to step 3. Germination happens during step 3, in 28 days.

24% germination in 14–28 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

Protocol 7

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

  1. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C

No stated waiting before sowing.

0% germination.

Nothing germinated at 70.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22Public domain
Show the original text
Aronia (Rosaceae). Germinations were extended over a number of cycles which is typical of many of the Rosaceae. A. melanocarpa seeds DS 6 m germ. in higher percentage (90%), but the germination did not occur until the sixth cycie whereas fresh seed gave significant germination in the first and third cycles. Fresh seeds germ. 70L(6%)-40-70L(60% in 2nd w), 70D(6%)-40-70D(24% in 2-4 w), OT(58% in April from placing outdoors the previous September), and none in 70 GA-3 or 40. Seeds DS 6 m at 70 germ. 70D-40- 70D-40-70D(90% in 6-10 d), 40-70-40-70-40-70(71% in 4-12 d), and OT(43% in March and April from placing outdoors in March a year earlier).
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Aronia p. 22. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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