Aronia: Native Shrubs With Untapped Potential Mark Brand he genus Aronia is a group of largely the fruits compared to other fruits that are more overlooked shrubs native to the east- readily taken by birds. Tern United States. Aronia species have I am always working to enlighten people tremendous potential for use as ornamental about Aronia and in doing so I have found that landscape plants and as an edible fruit crop. confusion abounds when it comes to chokeberry One thing that has held back consumer accep- and chokecherry. I regularly have people tell me tance of Aronia is the unfortunate common they are familiar with chokeberry, only to find name chokeberry—a name unlikely to endear out that they meant chokecherry (Prunus vir- a plant to consumers. The name chokeberry giniana). Aronia is one of the best kept plant may have been given to Aronia because people secrets around—surprising since this genus is as have observed that the berries are initially over- complex and interesting as it is useful. looked by birds and are only taken later in the winter when they are the last fruits remaining. Aronia Species and Their Characteristics The strong tannin flavor of chokeberry fruits Chokeberries are in the Rosaceae and are multi- may seem to be the reason why birds avoid the stemmed, deciduous shrubs. They readily form fruits, but ornithologists point out that it may rhizomes and can sucker to form small colo- actually be the relatively low protein content of nies in a non-aggressive manner. Two species ED icat ND I E IS W R HE OT SS NLE U OR H AUT HE T E BY AR OTOS ALL PH Red chokeberry’s striking fruit display lasts several months. Aronia 15 species, A. prunifolia (purple chokeberry), is generally recognized as having purple-black fruits and amounts of pubescence intermediate between the red and black species. In my obser- vation, the amount of pubescence on plants that could be considered A. prunifolia can range from moderate to heavy. Table 1 summarizes some of the characteristics that can be used to try to differentiate red from black chokeberry. Speciation within the Aronia genus is far from clear cut and more research needs to be con- ducted to determine if A. prunifolia is a hybrid The leaves of red chokeberry (seen here) are pubescent between A. arbutifolia and A. melanocarpa or on the lower surface while black chokeberry leaves should be considered as part of the A. melano- lack pubescence. carpa species. (See the taxonomy sidebar for more information on Aronia speciation). The red chokeberry grows 6 to 10 feet (1.8 to 3 meters) tall and 3 to 5 feet (.9 to 1.5 meters) Though not long lasting, red chokeberry’s flowers are attractive in the spring. Red chokeberry has an upright growth habit. of Aronia are generally recognized: A. arbutifo- lia (red chokeberry) and A. melanocarpa (black chokeberry). Hardin (1973) suggests that fruit color—red versus black—should be used to dif- ferentiate between species. In addition to fruit color, Krussmann (1986) used degree of pubes- cence on stems, leaves, and inflorescences to distinguish red from black chokeberry. A third Red chokeberry has outstanding red fall foliage color. 16 Arnoldia 67/3 wide. It is a multi-stemmed shrub with a dis- Amelanchier flowers), but they do add early tinctly upright growth habit. Even though the season interest to the plant. plant suckers and spreads, it can become some- Perhaps the best part about the flowers is what leggy and open at the base. Most of the that they give rise to abundant red fruits in foliage on a mature red chokeberry will be found late September and early October. The clusters in the upper half of the plant. Summer foliage of small (0.25 inch [.64 centimeter] diameter) of red chokeberry is shiny or flat green above fruits are quite showy and typically remain and grayish tomentose below. New growth on firm, glossy, and attractive throughD ecember. stems is also quite pubescent. Leaves are obo- As stated before, birds rarely strip the fruits vate or elliptical with a short acuminate tip from the plants until after they have lost orna- and marginal serrations. Red chokeberry fall mental appeal. foliage turns a vibrant red crimson or purple The black chokeberry can generally be dis- red and can be spectacular in sunny locations. tinguished from the red chokeberry (when fruit Even in partly shaded locations the leaves are absent) by the lack of pubescence on stems muster a very nice blend of orange and red. In and leaf undersides. Black chokeberries are also addition to being attractive in the summer and shorter than their red-fruited counterparts, fall, the red chokeberry also flowers in spring, attaining a mature height of 4 to 8 feet (1.2 to usually in early May in New England. Small 2.4 meters). Like the red chokeberry, it suckers white flowers are produced in clusters that are profusely, but forms dense plants and colonies, about 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) wide and rarely appearing very leggy. can be so numerous that they cover the canopy Black chokeberry has outstanding, lustrous, surface. The flowers do not last a particularly dark green summer foliage that turns a pleasing long time (about the same amount of time as blend of yellow, orange and red in the fall. While Black chokeberry bears glossy black fruit. Aronia 17 the black chokeberry’s autumn foliage display black fruits, from which A. melanocarpa gets may fall a bit shy of that of its red-fruited rela- its common name, are shiny and larger (0.3 to tive, it is still superior to many shrubs. Flowers 0.5 inch [0.8 to 1.3 centimeters] diameter) than are white, borne in May, and are similar in land- the fruits of A. arbutifolia. Fruits can ripen as scape effectiveness to the red chokeberry. The early as mid-July, but they primarily ripen dur- Table 1: Comparison of red (Aronia arbutifolia) and black (A. melanocarpa) chokeberry characteristics RED BLACK fruit color cherry red fruit color black fruit relatively small (≤ 0.3 inch) fruit relatively large (≥ 0.3 inch) fruit ripens Sept.–Oct. fruit ripens late July–Aug. fruit persistent into winter fruit shrivels and drops leaves, stems, inflorescences pubescent leaves, stems, inflorescences glabrous habit upright, leggy at base habit rounded, full to base found primarily on damp/wet sites found on both damp/wet sites and dry sites inhabits coastal southeastern U.S. inhabits northeastern and midwestern U.S. The glabrous foliage of black chokeberry is green in summer and can develop good red to orange and yellow fall color. 18 Arnoldia 67/3 A powerline cut with sand overlaying moist seeps is home to red chokeberries in North Carolina. ing the month of August. Black chokeberries distribution for Aronia melanocarpa is in the wither soon after ripening and either drop off northeastern states and the Great Lakes region, or persist for a while as “raisins” on the plant. with range extension into the higher elevations A. melanocarpa populations in the upper Mid- of the Appalachian Mountains. In the Appa- west typically have more persistent fruit than lachian Mountains and the Northeast there populations in the Northeast. is considerable overlap of the red and black chokeberry range. Although the information is Distribution and Habitat somewhat incomplete, A. prunifolia seems to The geographical range for Aronia arbutifolia be found throughout much of the black choke- is centered in the southeastern Coastal Plain, berry range and extends somewhat into the but it can be found extending out into suitable red chokeberry range. habitats westward into the Appalachian Moun- Aronia arbutifolia occurs in bogs, swamps, tains. It ranges from eastern Texas to northern savannahs, lowland woods, the edges of water Florida and continues up the eastern seaboard. bodies, moist rocky seeps, and moist pine bar- It is common in much of the Carolinas, Vir- rens. A. melanocarpa occurs in similar wet ginia, Maryland, and New Jersey. Although it locations, but can also be found growing on can be found in New England, red chokeberry sand dunes, dry rocky slopes, dry bluffs and occurs much less frequently there and is gen- balds, and grassy areas. You will rarely find erally found close to the coast. The center of A. arbutifolia on the same dry rocky bluffs and Aronia 19 One type of black/purple chokeberry environment in Maine. dunes where A. melanocarpa occurs, but I have chokeberries even when they are given only found it growing in thin layers of organic duff modest aftercare. Like most members of the on the exposed spines of rock balds. A. pruni- Rosaceae, Aronia has a seemingly endless list of folia is found in areas similar to A. arbutifolia, insects and diseases that could attack it, but the but also in somewhat drier clearings. plants rarely seem to be affected by much and are considered relatively carefree. I have found Cultural Conditions that powdery mildew can hit A. melanocarpa, Chokeberries are considered to be hardy to but it doesn’t seem to show up to any degree on USDA hardiness zone 4 and, with proper geno- A. arbutifolia. Lacebug is one insect that I have type selection, the red species can exhibit good observed occasionally afflicting black choke- heat tolerance as well. Plants can be grown suc- berry growing on hot, dry sites. cessfully in partial shade or full sun, but better flowering, fruiting, and fall color occur in full Aronia Genetics: Ploidy and Apomixis sun situations. Both red and black chokeberries Published literature states that A.