Aronia melanocarpa
Black chokeberry
Also known as Pyrus melanocarpa
- Height × spread
- 1.5m × 1.5m
- Position
- Full sun
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Flowers
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
Availability
Please ask in store about availability
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
This small attractive shrub makes a good, rather rounded dome shaped plant. It is clad in oval glossy dark green leaves with pointed ends. The leaves have very good red and orange autumn tints. In May the shrub is decked with delicate white starry blossoms and there are black berry fruits in early autumn. Give it a sunny or partly shaded site. It can take full shade but to the detriment of the autumn tints. It likes acidic or neutral soil that is deep and rich. The shrub stands around 1m (3ft) high with a 1.5m (5ft) spread.
- Flower colour
- White
- Foliage colour
- Green
- Autumn foliage
- Orange-red
- Stem colour
- Brown, Green
- Fruit colour
- Black
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell
- Height
- 1.5m
- Spread
- 1.5m
- Season of interest
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Flowers in
- Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Deciduous
- Garden style
- Seaside garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Sandy soil
- Soil pH
- Acid (ericaceous)
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Well drained soil
- Hardiness
- Very cold to -20C (RHS H6)
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Use for
- Structural, Bird attraction
- Hazards
- No
Spring
Spring · Outdoors
Apply acidic mulch
Where soil is only just acidic, apply mulch with a high acidic content such as leaf mould, or mulch for ericaceous plants. Alternatively the plant can benefit from a feed of iron supplement (iron chelate) such as sequestrol.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water to keep the soil moist
For best results, this plant needs soil that is always moist. Water deeply and regularly as soon as soil appears dry. Even for established plants in the ground, a dry week can cause problems with some soils. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather. Or install an automatic irrigation system which will do the hard work for you, even when you are away on holiday.
Without regular watering some plants never fully regain their beauty.
Summer
Summer - early · Outdoors
Feed a general fertiliser
Where plants have moderate needs for nutrients, they can simply be given a general feed, fairly early in the growth season so that the growth has plenty of time to harden off before the cold weather.
Give plants a general boost with the application of a general purpose fertiliser which is spread around the root area of the plant, with amounts as directed on the feed label.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Water with rain water
This plant needs rain water or soft water (the minerals in alkaline or "hard" water are harmful). This is especially important for plants in pots.
Outdoor planting · Planting
Add root growth stimulant to the planting hole
Mycorrhizal fungi helps roots establish quickly, so they absorb water and nutrients more efficiently. It comes as a powder, granule or gel. Add to the planting hole or container, and to the plant's rootball before planting in the hole. For "bareroot" plants use a gel.
Compost · Planting
Ericaceous compost
This plant requires acidic (ericaceous) soil. Where the soil is not acidic, or when planting in pots, use an ericaceous compost.
Found in
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Aronia x prunifolia 'Brilliant'
Purple fruited chokeberry
Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic'
Black chokeberry
Aronia x prunifolia 'Viking'
Purple chokeberry