About
Aronia x prunifolia, commonly known as purple chokeberry, is likely a natural hybrid of A. arbutifolia and A. melanocarpa. This plant exhibits a multi-stemmed growth form, producing white flowers in late spring that give way to purple-black berries. Its leaves are a dark green with a matte finish, transforming into vibrant colors in the autumn.
About the genus
Aronia are deciduous shrubs featuring simple leaves that display vibrant colors in the fall. They produce clusters of small, white flowers reminiscent of hawthorn blooms, which give way to berries in black, red, or purple hues. While these berries are edible, they possess a strong astringency when consumed raw and may draw the attention of birds.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, North-facing, West-facing, East-facing
- Exposure
- Exposed, Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H7
Plant details
- Plant type
- Shrubs
- Habit
- Suckering
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 2.5-4 metres
- Spread
- 1.5-2.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 5-10 years
- Suggested uses
- Cottage and informal garden
- Native to
- Eastern N America
- Toxicity
- The berries are edible, but bitter raw, and this tree is usually grown as an ornamental plant rather than to provide a crop of fruit in the UK
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in any moist but well-drained soil (except shallow soil over chalk) in sun or partial shade
- Pruning
- Pruning group 1 or Pruning group 2
- Propagation
- Propagate by softwood cuttings in early summer, propagate by suckers when plants are dormant and pot up
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- Generally disease-free