Black chokeberry is considered to be the tastier of the two common chokeberry species; its astringent flavor is due to the high level of antioxidants in the fruits. Fall color ranges from burgundy to purple. This shrub is suckering and will tolerate wet soils, so works well as a shrub border or planted near water, even in clay. Aronia melanocarpa var. grandiflora, an unresolved variety of the species, is sometimes misleadingly sold as a cultivar under the name 'Grandiflora.' This variety exhibits larger leaves, flowers, and fruits than other black chokeberries, sometimes at the expense of flower and fruit quantity.

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