Flower:

Rounded clusters from buds at the tips of branches, each cluster with 7 to 18 flowers on branching stalks, typically opening after leaves are fully developed. Flowers are 1/3 to ½ inch across with 5 white or pinkish tinged, round to egg-shaped petals. In the center is a column of 5 green styles surrounded by 18 to 20 dark pink tipped stamens that are shorter than the petals. The calyx cupping the flower has 5 triangular lobes, about 1/3 the length of petals, the outer surface with sparse glands, smooth or hairy, the inner surface hairy.

Leaves and stems:

Leaves are simple and alternate, 1¼ to 3¾ inches long, ¾ to 1½ inches wide, somewhat variable in shape from nearly round to urn-shaped, mostly widest above the middle, often with an abrupt taper to a sharp point at the tip. Edges are finely serrated with a minute, reddish to brown gland at the tip of each tooth. The upper surface is dark green and smooth with reddish glands along the midvein, the lower surface pale green, smooth or with sparse fine hairs.

Twigs are red and smooth with scattered white lenticels (pores).

Older bark is gray and smooth or becoming rough below, lower stems 1 to 1¼ inches in diameter. Stems are multiple from the base, erect, spreading via root suckers.

Fruit:

Fruit is a bluish black berry, ¼ to ½ inch diameter, astringent or bitter tasting.

Notes:

Black Chokeberry is occasional throughout central and north eastern forests, though most common in open shrublands of the Anoka Sandplain. It would most likely be confused with a Prunus species, also in the Rose family, but the small red glands along the upper leaf midrib and pink stamens that are shorter than the petals are diagnostic. While not extensively used, it is a landscape shrub, often selected on very glossy upper leaf surfaces and vibrant fall color