Aronia arbutifolia - Red Chokeberry (Rosaceae) Aronia melanocarpa - Black Chokeberry (Rosaceae) ------Aronia arbutifolia and Aronia melanocarpa are USAGE deciduous shrubs known for shiny green summer and red Function autumn foliage. Chokeberries have colorful, pendulous -mass plantings, borders, informal hedges, or low screens fruits, are very adaptable to moist/wet sites, and are -good near bodies of water appropriate for naturalizing and for attracting wildlife. Texture -fine texture in foliage and when bare FEATURES -thick density in foliage and when bare (when young), Form but open density in foliage and when bare (when mature, -small shrubs; to 5' tall x 4' wide (A. m.) or due to arching habit) to 8' tall x 4' wide (A. a.) Asset -multi-stemmed and spreading due to -wet site tolerant suckering -red or black, persistent fruits, depending on species -upright columnar when young, becoming arching vase- Liabilities shaped with age -suckering can be either desired or detrimental -medium growth rate Habitat Culture -Zones 3 to 9 -full sun to partial shade -Native to Eastern North America, Nova Scotia to -tolerant of poor soils and moisture (wet or dry) but Florida, west to Michigan. prefers rich, moist, well-drained, slightly acid soil -takes well to pruning SELECTIONS -generally stress tolerant Alternates -abundantly available in B&B or container -good-foliaged small shrubs with erect to arching multi- Foliage stemmed habit -dark green; deciduous -small shrubs with attractive and sometimes persistent -alternate arrangement; obovate; finely serrated; shiny fruits (Amelanchier, Viburnum trilobum) and glabrous above -autumn color - green to orange to wine-red, with all Cultivars – Variants- Related species three colors on the same shrub at the same time; Oct.; -A. arbutifolia - Red Chokeberry - is grown for its autumn color can be spectacular excellent red autumn color and profuse production of red Flowers fruits. This slow growing, suckering shrub transplants -white; May; 1" well. The 0.25" fruits are borne along the stem and diameter although highly ornamental are not eaten by birds. The inflorescences; white flowers precede the fruit but are not as ornamental. attractive but not The leaves turn bright red in the autumn. Red overwhelming Chokeberry will adapt to wet or dry soils. Fruits Cultivars: -small black or red -'Brilliantissima' - flowers and fruits are more abundant; fruits in pendulous striking persistent red fruits and flaming red autumn clusters; black color, both of which show up better in the landscape than fruits not effective Black Chokeberry; to 6-8' tall. unless viewed up- -'Erecta' - an upright cultivar reaching 7' x 4'. close or against a white background, -A. melanocarpa - Black Chokeberry - a suckering, but red fruits are thicket-forming shrub that adapts to wet or dry sites. The dazzling glossy foliage turns red in the autumn and is displayed -Oct. and winter with the purplish-black fruit. The plant can be used in persistent naturalistic plantings in sun or shade. -common name Cultivars and Varieties: comes from bitter taste of the fruits -'Autumn Magic' - bright red autumn foliage color. Twigs -A. m. var. elata (sometimes listed as 'Elata' ) - Glossy -brown-red; with striking bright red conical buds Black Chokeberry - A compact rounded shrub with white partially curling around the stem; lateral buds the same flowers. The black fruits persist well into winter. The size as terminal buds; stems numerous and upright variety is better than the straight species in its quality of foliage, flowers, and fruits - Iroquois Beauty™ ('Morton') - A dwarf about 3' tall. -'Viking' - A 4-6' shrub with glossy deep green foliage that turns red in the autumn. The plant also produces large black fruits. Trunk -not applicable