Enjoy year-round interest with red chokeberry
Editor’s note: Once a month, the OSU Extension master gardener’s office of Franklin County profiles a plant that occurs naturally in central Ohio.
Picture vibrant red fruits in pendulous clusters set against a snow-covered landscape. Or sweetly scented delicate white flowers emerging out of red, conical buds in springtime. Through summer, dramatic glossy, deep-green leaves transform into vibrant orange and ultimately, deep-crimson red foliage in fall. This is a reality when Aronia arbutifolia is in your yard.
Yes, admittedly, its name is somewhat alarming, but fear not: The juicy red berry or pome, botanically speaking, is, in fact, edible. However, the name was given because of the tart, bitter taste of the pome, which might cause choking, when eaten straight from the bush.
Even the birds wait until the fruit has begun to ferment, late in winter, before attempting to eat. The fruits can be harvested for jellies and jams and are high in antioxidants.
This upright, multi-stemmed shrub, a member of the Rosaceae family, will reach a height of 6 to 10 feet and spread 3 to 6 feet. It has a fibrous root system that will colonize and spread by suckers. To control its growth, root suckers can be removed with a minimum amount of effort and transplanted.
An easy-to-grow shrub, it will tolerate wet and dry soil but prefers rich, moist, well-drained, acidic soil and at least six hours of sun.
Native to the eastern U.S., it is often found in wet areas, making it an attractive addition to a rain garden. Add to a border, as an informal hedge or in a mass, to create four-season interest.
Replace the invasive burning bush with the cultivar Brilliant (Aronia arbutifolia ‘Brilliantissima’), with abundant flowers and larger fruits. This slowgrowing cultivar produces a glossy, red berry and brilliant red foliage in fall. It’s more compact and produces an abundance of fruit compared with the species.
The cultivar Erecta is a more upright species but might require diligence in locating, as its not generally found in our area.