Description
Aronia arbutifolia
CT RG P EcoR
Soil: Acidic, Fertile, Well-drained
Light: Full Sun
Moisture: Average to Moist
Plant Height: 6 to 12 feet
Plant Width: 3 to 6 feet
Pests: None
Landscape Value: Great for mass plantings in shrub borders, woodland edges, winter gardens, along streams and ponds, and in naturalized areas. Provides winter interest. Useful for erosion control.
Showy, multi-stemmed shrub that typically grows in a vase-shaped form and has reddish-brown exfoliating bark. Foliage is glossy dark green, turning bright red in autumn. Flat-topped clusters of white to light pink flowers appear in spring followed by abundant berry-like red fruits that appear in dense clusters along the stems. Fruits ripen in late summer and persist well into winter as wildlife mostly leave the fruits alone. Persistent fruits and reddish-brown bark provide winter interest. Prone to suckering and will form colonies if suckers are not removed. Tolerates clay soil, wet soil, and occasional flooding. Flowers attract butterflies. Although edible, fruits are tart and bitter. They have abundant pectin and make tasty jams and jellies.
1 gallon pot, 3-4 feet tall
Photo credits:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Native Plant Trust (photo by William Cullina)
NC State Extension (photo by Andrey Zharkikh)
