Aronia arbutifolia – also known as Red Chokeberry

Introduction

Aronia arbutifolia is commonly known as red Chokeberry. It is a perennial, deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub. And they are native to Eastern North American regions such as Nova Scotia, Ontario to Ohio south to Texas, and Florida. 

The Red Chokeberry shrubs belong to the Rosaceae family. Its genus is Aronia and a member of the arbutifolia Species. Here the genus name “Aronia” comes from a Greek name aria which resembles a fruit like Chokeberry. And also the species name “arbutifolia” gives the meaning “with leaves like in Arbutus”. 

The fruit of Red Chokeberry usually has a better and tart taste. Thus for some people who taste the fruit might get choke. Hence that is the reason we use “Red Chokeberry” as Aronia arbutifolia’s common name.

Common Names

Brilliantissima, Aronia arbutifolia Brilliantissima, Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry are some of the common names that use to identify Aronia arbutifolia.

Foliage 

The Red Chokeberry is a semi-evergreen, deciduous shrub. Its leaves arrangement is simple and alternative.

These Aronia arbutifolia leaves are oblong, obovate, or elliptical in shape. They grow up to 1-3.5 inches in length and up to 1.5 in width. Also if you look close enough, you will see Reddish toothed-like edges around the leaf.

The upper surface of the leaf is smooth, glossy, while its color deviates from medium green to dark green. And the underside of the leaf is hairy and has grayish-green color. 

They turn to Orange in color during the Summer season. Again, they turn their color into brilliant red during the Fall period. Thus if you have a Red Chokeberry shrub in your garden, the winter landscape will be so much colorful.

Flower

The Red Chokeberry flowers start to bloom around May in the Spring season. They bloom in clusters with the shape of a corymb. The gardeners value this plant very much as it has a good fragrance as well.

The flowers are white to pink in color and each flower has a reddish color anther on it. A single Aronia Arbutifolia flower has 4-5 petals and takes a shape of a cup in total. And each flower blooms approximately 1 inch in diameter.

Eventually, the flowers are followed up by dense clusters of fruits on branches. And It is a valuable plant to gardeners as the fruit is edible, long-lasting, and Showy.

These fruits ripen to glossy red color berries about ¼ to ⅓ inches in diameter. These fruits start to mature from September to November period. And they might persist all along the winter months as well. A fully matured Red chokeberry fruit contains 1-5 seeds in total. 

These fruits can be eaten raw, cooked, or by making jams and jellies. But if you eat it raw, then some of you might choke too as the common name suggests.

Nature of the Plant

Aronia arbutifolia grows 6-10 feet in height and 3-6 feet in wide. And they tend to grow as shrubs with multiple stems. These shrubs naturally grow in a shape of a vase. And with time typically grows suckers to form colonies. Hence if you wish to have a single shrub, then removing the suckers will prevent the colonial spread in it.

This shrub has a fibrous root system. It tends to grow a stiff and upright stem naturally. 

The bark colors in reddish-brown initially, but changes to grayish-brown as it mature. 

The Red Chokeberry loves to grow in a soil medium that contains frequent standing water or Good drainage or Moist or occasionally wet. Soil textures that contain clay or loam are some examples of the above mediums. 

But if you do not have that kind of soil medium in the garden please don’t worry. Because these shrubs have good soil tolerance as they can be even plant on boggy soil as well. And also these plants can tolerate wet sites and occasional flooding as well.

It is recommended to plant these plants in a place where they can face full sunlight at least for 6 hours a day. As it will help the plants to produce more Red Chokeberry blooms and fruits in addition. 

Pollinator and wildlife behavior around Aronia arbutifolia shrub

During the blooming (Spring)season, the pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds attract Aronia arbutifolia flowers to drink nectar. 

The fruits are been eaten by birds and mammals during the summer to the winter period.

This plant has little tolerance against the damage done by mammals like deer and cattle. But they might keep eating the leaves as if they aren’t able to find anything else to eat during the winter. 

Plant Propagation

Plant propagation is mainly done by,

1. Seeds
2. Stem cutting
3. Repotting the suckers

How to Plant Red Chokeberry

Things you need,

• Potted nursery Red Chokeberry(Aronia arbutifolia) plant
• Shovel
• Knife or a pruner
• Organic matter mixed mulch

Select a place where sunlight falls more than 6 hours a day. It will be an added advantage to red chokeberry shrubs to produce more blooms and fruits under full sunlight. If you plant in a shady place then there is a high probability that the plant might produce a lesser amount of Aronia arbutifolia blooms and fruits.

Now dig the hole about 4 times the size of the root ball and to a depth equal to root ball height. 

Note : 
The Aronia arbutifolia shrub’s roots are sensitive to the depth they are growing. As they tend to spread around near the ground level. Thus planting the shrub's root ball too deeper than rootball height might weaken the growth of the plant. Therefore it is recommended to plant Red chokeberry root ball in a way that it’s top of the root ball levels with ground level.

Now take out the rootball from the container gently and keep it inside the hole smoothly and solid. If the roots seem to grow in a circular pattern, then gently spread them inside the hole. Also, try not to crumble the root ball while doing all these steps.

Now pulverize the dug-out soil and refill the rest of the hole to half of its height. Then firm the soil and add some water in to release the air spots on the soli. Then refill the rest again water well to settle the shrub in the hole.

As the next step, use the organic mulch mixture to cover the base of the plant. This will help the soil to secure soil moisture and avoid weed growing in it. Continue this mulching process throughout the growing season to get the best results. 

How to Maintain Red Chokeberry

The Aronia Arbutifolia shrub does not need huge maintenance. To encourage plant growth you can add fertilizer or a layer of compost in the November and Spring season. And remember to water well and give a good soaking to the soil before Winter.

Suckers may pop up from the plant base with time. Remove them to avoid colonial spread. But if you wish to grow it as a colony, then let the suckers be.

Do the pruning 2 to 3 years after planting. If not the plant will become leggy with age. 

Problems you may face while planting and growing Aronia arbutifolia

Does not have serious diseases or insect problems. But they tend to develop leaf spots and twig blight.

Has a resistance against damage from deer. But they might eat the leaves as if there is nothing to eat in winter.

Final thoughts and Uses of Red Chokeberry shrub in the Garden 

• Planting an Aronia arbutifolia shrub will keep your winter garden colorful during the winter season. 
• It is a semi-evergreen, color-changing, deciduous plant.
• Has low maintenance.
• Produces more blooms and fruits under Full sunlight and moisture-rich soil.
• Red chokeberry flowers have a good fragrance
• Riped fruits are edible.
• Fruits can be used to make jam or jelly.
• Has good pollinators and wildlife attraction

This plant can be used in borders, hedges, for mass planting, as a Screen cover(for privacy) on following gardens. such as,

• Children gardens, 
• Butterfly gardens, 
• native garden, 
• Pollinator gardens, 
• Rain gardens,
• Winter Gardens