Chokeberry , scientifically known asAronia , is a genus of deciduous bush native to eastern North America , lionize for both their ornamental and wellness benefits . These shrubs raise small , circular berries that come in black , red , and sometimes purple , which are incredibly robust in antioxidants , peculiarly anthocyanins , vitamin , and minerals . The berry , while acerb when eaten fresh due to their high tannic acid message , become more toothsome when make , dried , or sweeten , making them democratic for jams , jellies , pie , and health drinking . Chokeberries are also noted for their nutritional profile , sustain heart wellness , boosting the immune system of rules , and potentially have anti - inflammatory properties .
Chokeberries are sturdy plants , thriving in USDA zones 3 to 8 . They raise well in full Lord’s Day to fond tad and can conform to a all-encompassing mountain chain of soil types , from wet to well - drained , making them suited for various landscaping scenario , including rain garden and erosion control . Chokeberries are broken - upkeep once established , need minimum pruning except to assure their suckering habit , which can be beneficial for creating heavy hedges or groundcovers . Their white leap efflorescence attract pollinators , and the berries provide food for birds and other wildlife , heighten garden biodiversity .
In spring , they propose clusters of humble , white flower ; in summer , their shiny , dark green leave allow for a background to the modernize Berry ; and come fall , the foliation turns spectacular shades of red , orange , and purple , often outshining many other plants in the garden . The berry persist into wintertime in some varieties , add up a splash of color during the abeyant month . This combination of esthetic entreaty and usable benefit make chokeberries a versatile choice for both edible and ornamental gardening , appeal to those interested in sustainable , multi - purpose landscaping .
Chokeberry Varieties
Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa )
This is the most common species , known for its small-scale , dark purple - black berries that are exceptionally gamey in antioxidant . It farm to about 3 to 6 feet marvelous , with blanched flowers in spring . The plant life is adaptable , thriving in both smashed and dry soils , making it fantabulous for landscape in various condition . Its berries are somewhat acerb when eaten fresh but become more toothsome when processed or sweetened .
Red Chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia )
cerise chokeberry is slightly larger , growing up to 6 to 12 feet , and is noted for its bright cerise berry which persist into wintertime , providing cosmetic time value . The berries are less acerbic than black chokeberries but still do good from processing to enhance flavor . This coinage favour moist , well - drained soils and is often used in rainwater gardens or for erosion control due to its ability to colonize through suckering .
Purple Chokeberry ( Aronia x prunifolia )
This is a lifelike loan-blend between smuggled and red chokeberries , combining trait of both parents . It grows to about 8 to 12 feet marvellous and is fuck for its deep purple Berry . The purple chokeberry offers a alone berry color and is valued for its decorative caliber , including shiny nightfall foliage . Its Charles Edward Berry are also rich in antioxidant , like its parent metal money , but are somewhat less common in cultivation .
Autumn Magic Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Autumn Magic ’ )
A cultivar of black chokeberry , ‘ Autumn Magic ’ is value for its thick growth wont ( 3 - 5 groundwork tall ) and splendid drop foliage . It produces an copiousness of bleak berry and lily-white flower , making it a dual - purpose flora for both edible and ornamental use . This salmagundi is particularly noted for its resistance to cuss and diseases .
Viking Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Viking ’ )
‘ Viking ’ is a commercial darling for its large , juicy Charles Edward Berry and in high spirits yield . It grow to about 6 to 8 feet and has been modernize for its superior fruit quality , including larger berries with a slightly angelic taste than unfounded black chokeberries . This cultivar is well - suit for both home gardens and commercial-grade production , offering excellent antioxidant capacity .
Nero Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Nero ’ )
‘ Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus ’ is another high - yielding cultivar , similar to ‘ Viking ’ , but with an even more succinct growth habit ( about 3 - 4 feet tall ) . Its Chuck Berry are notably large and pack with antioxidant . This variety is particularly measure for its late but satisfying return , making it a good choice for nurseryman looking for both cosmetic and edible lineament .
Brilliantissima Red Chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia ‘ Brilliantissima ’ )
This cultivar of red chokeberry is renowned for its fall foliage , which is among the brightest Red River in the plant realm . It grows to about 6 to 8 human foot and produce an abundance of crimson berries , enhancing its cosmetic entreaty . ‘ Brilliantissima ’ is selected for its improve berry production and vivacious autumn presentation .
Iroquois Beauty ™ Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Morton ’ )
A summary cultivar , growing to about 2 - 4 feet , ‘ Iroquois Beauty ’ is know for its dense , rounded habit and brilliant descent leaf . It extend black Berry and whitened peak in spring , make it ideal for smaller landscapes or as a ground cover . This variety is highly adaptable and disease - resistant , making it a low - criminal maintenance option .
Galicjanka Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Galicjanka ’ )
‘ Galicjanka ’ is recognized for its turgid , sweet-scented berries and high production , originally modernize in Poland . It ’s a bit improbable , reaching up to 8 foot , and is highly valued for its fruit tone . This cultivar is democratic in both home and commercial-grade gardens for its productivity and the health benefits of its berries .
McKenzie Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ McKenzie ’ )
‘ McKenzie ’ is a cultivar take note for its inhuman hardiness and prominent , saporous Chuck Berry . Growing to about 6 - 12 feet , this variety is adaptable to various soil types and is especially accommodate for northerly climates . Its berries are plenteous in antioxidant , and the plant ’s vigor makes it excellent for both ornamental and eatable aim .
Rubina Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Rubina ’ )
‘ Rubina ’ is a Hungarian cultivar known for its very large berry and early on ripen . It grows to about 6 - 8 feet marvellous and is esteem for its high payoff and the quality of its fruit , which is somewhat sweet and less acerb than some other diversity . This makes it especially popular for juice product and tonic eating .
Elata Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa var . elata )
‘ Elata ’ is a variety of bleak chokeberry that ’s slightly large in height than the species eccentric , reaching up to 8 feet . It ’s prized for its large , abundant fruit clusters and quash suckering compared to other varieties , making it easier to manage in a garden stage setting . The berries are high-pitched in antioxidant , and the plant offers good nightfall color , enhance its utilisation in ornamental landscaping .
Low Scape Mound ® Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ UCONNAM165 ’ )
This dwarf motley grows to just 1 to 2 feet high , with a spreading habit ideal for groundcover or humble hedge . ‘ Low Scape Mound ’ is staring for small spaces or container horticulture , offering blank prime in spring , black berries in summertime , and arresting fall colour , all on a very compact plant .
Low Scape Hedger ® Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ UCONNAM002 ’ )
Similar to ‘ Low Scape Mound ’ , this cultivar is project for create low hedges or borders , growing somewhat improbable at around 3 to 5 foot . It ’s know for its neat , tidy appearance , lily-white spring flowers , dim summer berry , and vibrant fall foliage , making it a multifunctional option for landscapes .
Morton ’s Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Morton ’ )
This is another mention of ‘ Iroquois Beauty ’ but under a different name , emphasizing its adaptability with a focus on its commercial name . It ’s a heavyset , hardy shrub with excellent yield production and spill color , suitable for both ornamental and comestible landscape .
Ursynów Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Ursynów ’ )
Developed in Poland , ‘ Ursynów ’ is known for its high yield of large , sweet berry . mature to about 6 - 8 feet , it ’s highly valued for its fruit quality , which is among the sweetest of chokeberries , crap it fantabulous for sweet consumption and processing .
Nero 2 Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Nero 2 ’ )
An improvement over the original ‘ Nero ’ , ‘ Nero 2 ’ offers even larger berries and a slightly more summary growth habit ( about 4 to 6 feet ) . It ’s bred for its in high spirits antioxidant content and the simpleness with which its berries can be used in culinary applications .
Erecta Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Erecta ’ )
As the name suggest , ‘ Erecta ’ has a more upright growth habit than many chokeberries , reaching meridian of about 6 foot . It ’s esteem for its neat shape , make it suitable for formal landscapes or as a specimen industrial plant , while still providing black berries and attractive fall foliage .
Hugin Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Hugin ’ )
break in Denmark , ‘ Hugin ’ is known for its very high yield of black berries , which are slenderly larger than average . This variety grows to about 5 - 6 metrical foot and is particularly noted for its resistance to diseases and plague , making it a low-pitched - maintenance alternative .
Munin Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Munin ’ )
A comrade variety to ‘ Hugin ’ , ‘ Munin ’ is another Danish cultivar with similar attributes but with a stress on even better fruit caliber for eating wise . It grows to a similar height and is prize for its impregnable , healthy growth .
Viking 2 Black Chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ‘ Viking 2 ’ )
While ‘ Viking ’ is already well - regarded , ‘ Viking 2 ’ aim to outdo it with even larger Chuck Berry and a higher output . This mixture is tailored for commercial production but is also excellent for home gardens search for substantial fruit yield .
Aron Red Chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia ‘ Aron ’ )
‘ Aron ’ is a cultivar of red chokeberry pick out for its vivid fall foliation and bright red Charles Edward Berry that hang on into wintertime . It grows to about 6 - 8 understructure and is used for its ornamental qualities as well as its yield , which can be made into jams or used in landscape for wintertime stake .
Brilliant Red Chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia ‘ Brilliant ’ )
Very standardized to ‘ Brilliantissima ’ , this variety is noted for its exceptional dusk colour , which can be even more intense . ‘ vivid ’ provides red berries that last through winter , sum colouring material to the garden when most plants are torpid .
Autumn Brilliance Red Chokeberry ( Aronia arbutifolia ‘ Autumn Brilliance ’ )
This cultivar is celebrate for its free fall foliage , which might be one of the most brilliant redness in the plant realm . Growing to about 6 to 8 metrical unit , it ’s not just the leave that offer fall interest ; the cherry-red berry add to its appeal , making it a favorite for both edible and ornamental use .
