Also known as chokeberry, Aronia is a North American native fruiting bush that is sorely underused in the ornamental landscape. Often confused with chokeCHERRY, chokeberries also have a white spring bloom, dark summer fruit, and gorgeous fall color. There are many Aronia varieties available, but it can be hard to keep them all straight! I planted three different types in my own backyard as a little experiment in how they might differ, and now that they are 3 years old, I can finally see the contrast. Read on for a primer on this superfruit-producing native shrub and a breakdown of a few different varieties.

Chokeberry Basics

Aronia rarely gets much taller than six or seven feet in our region, though it can reach eight feet tall if situated properly. The white blooms are prolific, and attract lots of those spring bees buzzing around. These shrubs are self-fertile, but planting in groups will increase your berry crop. The fall color is bright, saturated red tones, and when the leaves drop the berries often hang on through much of winter. Interestingly, birds don’t eat them right away. I notice in my yard that they are largely untouched until mid-winter, when the robins suddenly show up and then gobble them all down in the matter of a few hours. Perhaps they get more palatable with lots of freezing and thawing cycles? Just a hunch.

North and South

Aronia arbutifolia and Aronia melanocarpa are both native to north America, but have slightly different ranges. A. arbutifolia is more commonly found in the southern states, with a range that dips all the way to Florida and the Gulf Coast. A. melanocarpa is hardy into the far northern parts of Minnesota and on into Canada. While neither one is native to Kansas, they can still thrive here since we are on the edge of both the ranges. The flowers and berries have wonderful wildlife value for our pollinators and birds.

Berry Different

When potted and ready to purchase at our Florakansas event, it is almost impossible to tell the difference between the many types of chokeberry we offer. It is not uncommon for us to have up to five Aronias to choose from at one time, all displayed together. But once allowed to mature, some obvious differences emerge. A. arbutifolia has smaller, firmer berries that hold their red coloring much longer into the year. They also have ovate leaves. A. melanocarpa varieties tend to have large fruit and round to teardrop-shaped leaves. The largest fruit, in my experience, is from ‘MacKenzie’. If you are looking for a large harvest for human consumption, MacKenzie will be the best choice. Some wonderful ideas for Aronia jelly, sauce, vinaigrette, and fruit leather can be found at the Forager Chef.

Shape Up

The shrubs not only have different berry sizes, they also grow in slightly different shapes. ‘Brilliantissima’ is very upright and vase shaped, while ‘MacKenzie’ is rounded and dense. ‘Viking’ is sort of between the two, not as round as the big fruited bush but not as narrow as ‘Brilliantissima’. Of course, I am drawing generalizations from a too-small sample size (1 specimen each) so this is purely anecdotal. I made a sketch, such as it is, of their general shape as they are now in my backyard. I am writing this in December when they have lost their leaves, otherwise I would have taken a photo, which might have been more helpful!

Because of its adaptability, edibility, low-maintenance habit, and wildlife value, Aronia is a fantastic addition to any landscape. It is sorely underrepresented in urban environments. So as we look ahead to spring, start thinking about where you can add one of these to your yard and garden. You won’t regret it!