Low Scape Mound chokeberry

Sun

Full sun to partial shade; flowering and autumn colour are usually best in full sun.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Once rooted, it tolerates short dry spells as well as periodically wet soil, but grows best with reasonably consistent moisture.

Soil

Adaptable to sandy, loamy or clay soils, preferably acidic to neutral. Tolerates heavy soil and occasional waterlogging; avoid permanently stagnant conditions.

Height

1-2 ft (0.3-0.6 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m)

Flowers

Clusters of small white flowers in mid- to late spring.

Foliage

Small, glossy, dark green leaves turn orange and red in autumn before falling.

Growth

Moderate

Care needed

Low

• Pollinators
• Cold hardy
• Disease resistant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Easy

Toughness

Very tough

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   1.5 ft (0.45 m)

   full size

About 5 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Mildly toxic: may upset a stomach

Native to

the US and Canada

Growth rate

Moderate

• Water deeply during the first growing season whenever the root zone begins to dry.
• Apply 2-3 in (5-8 cm) of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the stems.
• Feed only if growth is weak; use a light application of balanced fertiliser in spring rather than heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Water during prolonged drought, especially in hot sites or containers.
• Remove unwanted suckers at ground level if you need to keep the planting within a fixed edge.

Pruning. Little pruning is needed. Remove dead or damaged wood in late winter; if shaping is necessary, prune lightly just after flowering, accepting that this will remove some potential fruit.

Early spring

Plant when the soil is workable and not waterlogged; water thoroughly after planting.

Spring

Refresh mulch and feed lightly only if growth indicates a need.

Late spring

After flowering, lightly trim any branches that extend beyond the intended outline.

Summer

Check new plants during dry spells and water deeply rather than giving frequent light sprinklings.

Autumn

Plant or transplant while the soil remains workable, and leave any berries for birds.

Late winter

Remove dead or damaged branches and cut out unwanted suckers.

• Plant in repeated groups along paths for a low, informal edge with autumn colour.
• Mass on gentle banks to cover soil without blocking views.
• Use at the front of mixed borders with taller grasses and flowering perennials.
• Include on the upper edges of rain gardens where soil alternates between wet and dry.
• Plant beneath open-canopied trees where there is enough light for flowering.

Garden styles it suits: Low-maintenance, Wildlife garden, Pollinator garden, New perennial (prairie), Autumn colour and Small-space.

Plant it with: Switchgrass, Little bluestem, Purple coneflower, Black-eyed Susan, Wild geranium and Blue flag iris.

Wildlife: Spring flowers provide pollen and nectar for visiting insects. Small black berries may follow and are eaten by birds; the branching growth provides low cover.

• Leaf spots can develop in damp, crowded plantings; allow airflow, water at soil level and clear badly affected fallen leaves.
• Aphids may gather on soft new shoots; wash them off with water and avoid unnecessary insecticides.
• Hot, dry conditions can cause leaf scorch or early leaf drop; water deeply and maintain mulch.
• Very alkaline soil can cause yellow leaves with greener veins; test the soil and move the plant to a more suitable site if necessary.

Not known to be toxic to people, cats, dogs or horses. The ripe berries are edible but strongly astringent; eating large quantities may cause stomach upset. Do not confuse chokeberry with chokecherry, which has different toxicity risks.

• Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana)

  Chokecherry becomes a much larger shrub or tree and bears flowers and fruit along elongated hanging clusters, rather than chokeberry's short, branched clusters.

• Red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia)

  Red chokeberry has red rather than black ripe fruit, hairy leaf undersides and a much taller, more upright habit.

• Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa)

  Ordinary black chokeberry has similar flowers, leaves and fruit but usually grows much taller. A reliable cultivar label is the best way to confirm Low Scape Mound.

The species name melanocarpa means 'black-fruited', while chokeberry refers to the dry, puckering sensation caused by its astringent fruit.

Propagation. Commercially propagated vegetatively to preserve its dwarf habit. Seedlings will not come true to the cultivar; this is a patented cultivar, so check current plant-protection restrictions before propagating it.

Accepted botanical name

Aronia melanocarpa

In the US and Canada

Native in Canada and the lower 48 states.

Native range

Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and Maine.

Measured

Average height 50 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.