Practical
Plants

Aronia arbutifolia

Red Chokeberry

a perennial woody deciduous member of the Aronia genus in the family Rosaceae.

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Taxonomy and growth

Family
Rosaceae
Genus
Aronia
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
deciduous
Woodiness
woody
Height
3 m
Spread
3 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Fruit - raw or cooked[2]. It can also be dried and used for making pemmican[5][7]. Fruit quality is rather variable, some forms are rather pleasant when fully ripe, especially if they have experienced some frost[9]. The fruit is about 7mm in diameter[10], it can hang on the plant for several months[12].

Plant part
Fruit

Environment

Range
Eastern N. America - Massachusetts to Minnesota and south to Texas and Florida.
Habitat
Low woods, thickets, swamps, damp pine barrens etc[13].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in pots outdoors or in a cold frame[3]. Pre-soak stored seed overnight and then cold stratify for 3 months at 2°c[3]. The seed germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15°c[4]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame for their first winter. Plant out in late spring. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame[3]. Division of suckers in the dormant season[10]. Very easy, they can be planted straight out into their permanent positions. Layering[10].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Prefers a moist peaty soil in full sun or partial shade[4]. Succeeds in most soils[1] but dislikes shallow chalk[10]. Tolerates atmospheric pollution[11]. Plants are hardy to about -25°c[8]. This genus is closely related to Sorbus species[10]. A suckering plant, it forms thickets in the wild[6]. Some named forms have been developed for their ornamental value[6]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[10].

References

  1. F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00

    ↩

  2. Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00

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  3. Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 2. Thompson and Morgan. 1988-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  5. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  6. Thomas. G. S. Ornamental Shrubs, Climbers and Bamboos. Murray 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-7195-5043-2

    ↩1↩2

  7. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  8. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Shrubs. Pan Books 1989-00-00 ISBN 0-330-30258-2

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  9. Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6

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  10. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  11. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩

  12. Britton. N. L. Brown. A. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada Dover Publications. New York. 1970-00-00 ISBN 0-486-22642-5

    ↩

  13. Fernald. M. L. Gray's Manual of Botany. American Book Co. 1950-00-00

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