Description
Aronia – Chokeberry
There are 3 species of deciduous shrubs, in this genus. They occur from woodland clearings, scrub and swamps in Eastern North America and with one species being a natural occurring hybrid. They are grown for their white sometimes pink-tinged flowers borne in late spring carried in corymbs to 2 ½” wide and for their alternate simple oval, finely toothed 3-4” long leaves that have colorful autumn colors of red and crimson. Their spherical red, purple or black fruit that are borne in late summer and autumn and are also a feature.
Grow these frost hardy plants in any moist but well-drained soil in sun or partial shade. They can tolerate wet and dry soils.
Prone to Mycosphaerella leaf spot, Cercospora leaf spots, rust, pear slugs, cherry slugs, and the larva of a sawfly.
Aronia melanocarpa ‘Autumn Magic’ – Black Chokeberry – This upright shrub from Eastern North America grows 3-6’ feet tall and spreads to 10’ feet wide. It bears densely crowded stems carrying egg shape, hairless glossy mid green leaves, which turn purple-red in autumn. In late spring and early summer it bears corymbs of white, occasional pink tinged flowers to 1” wide. Shiny black berries to 1 1/4” wide follow the flowers, which hang for long after leaves drop. This species is more tolerant of dry soils.
Zones 3-8
