Aronia melanocarpa 'Autumn Magic'
Common Name(s):
Black Chokeberry
Aurumn magic aronia
Synonym:
Photinia melanocarpa
Black berried aronia
Flower:
White
Blooms :
May
to:
May
5-6 flowered clusters of white 5-petal flowers in spring
Botanical Description
Fragrant?
NO
Family:
Rosaceae
Med - Lg Shrub (usually >3' and never < 1.5')
Foliage:
Dark Green
Glossy. elliptic to obovate dark green leaves, 2-3" long, with finely toothed margins
Fall Color?
YES
Purple/red fall color
Deciduous
Photo by:
Heading 6
Persistent black berries and an appealing multi-stemmed upright branching structure
Oregon Native?
NO
West State Native?
NO
Origins:
Native to Missouri east to Newfoundland
Site Selection
Minimum USDA Hardiness Zone:
3
Water Needs:
M
Sun Needs:
Full Sun
Deer Resistant?
NO
Firewise?
YES
Height:
3-6'
Spread:
3-6'
Growth Rate:
Meium
Native Habitat:
Low woods, swamps, bogs, moist thickets.
Soil:
Easily grown in average, medium moisture, well drained soils. Plants have a wide range of soil tolerance including boggy soils.
Care Recommendations
Maintenance Level:
Low
Fertilizer:
Moderate application of a blanced slow-release fertilizer or compost in spring
Mulch:
Shredded bark or well-rotted leaf mold
Prune the black chokeberry shrub when it is 8 to 10 years old to improve its fruit production. Cut its branches and stems to 40 inches above the ground after the plant flowers. Repeat the procedure every four or five years.
Long Term:
Winter:
Protect stems from foraging voles and rabbits, mulch if not done in fall, in droughty times water deeply once a month
Spring:
Prune after it flowers. Prune black chokeberry stems and branches to encourage bushiness, cutting the shrub to 20 inches above the ground after it flowers in May or June
Summer:
Cut suckers. Shallow hoeing around black chokeberry roots prevents suckers from growing and controls weeds.
Fall:
Cut suckers. Shallow hoeing around black chokeberry roots prevents suckers from growing and controls weeds, mulch.
General Care Comments:
Don't cut black chokeberry branches to just above a fork because the shrub won't resprout from that area. It resprouts from only buds along a length of branch or stem. Leave as many branches on the shrub as possible to encourage bushiness.
Common Problems
Tendency to sucker and spread
Diseases:
Cedar quince rust, leaf spots, twig and fruit blight
Insects:
Lace bugs, a[hids, scale, fruit and berry pests
Environmental Problems:
Moisture stress
Pests:
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