Also called Black Chokeberry. Plants have large drupes of medium sized black to dark blue berries, ripe in the autumn. They are quite astringent eaten fresh and sweeten slightly with frost. My limit for fresh eating is around ten at a time. These berries are best processed; into juice, jam, baking, etc. They are considered to have one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any berry on Earth. Foliage turns a lovely bright red in the autumn. We've had a seedling produce a good small crop in three years. A very under-utilized native shrub. They perform well in full sun to partial shade. A good addition to a forest garden shrub layer. Self fertile.