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Not a classic bonsai specimen, Chokeberry are tough shrubby plants with multiseasonal interest with small white
flowers in the spring, deep green, finely toothed foliage in summer, turning a brilliant, fiery red in autumn, and
small red or black fruit. Multi-stemmed, suckering habit, best for clump and multiple trunk style bonsai. Fairly
disease and insect resistant. Chokeberry have a naturally shallow root system, making them good candidates for
pot cultivation. Look for unworked nursery stock.
Hardiness: Zone 4 to zone 6 in landscape. Winter protection.
Light: Full sun for best flowering and fruiting. Will tolerate partial shade.
Soil: Tolerates a wide range of soil compositions provided it is free draining and has some moisture retention
qualities.
Watering: Prefer even moisture, neither allowed to dry out or remain too wet.
Fertilizer: Balanced or low nitrogen fertilizer in the spring every two weeks. Balanced fertilizer in the summer,
every two weeks. Taper off with a nitrogen free mix in autumn.
Pests and Diseases: Largely disease free. Watch for birds and other animals that want to eat the berries, they may
cause other damage.
Repotting: Every one to two years, as needed. Light root pruning.
Pruning and Styling: Cut back new growth to two leaves in spring. Prune back to a live bud or leaf. Major pruning
in early spring. Wire in winter or early spring when the interior structure is easiest to see.
Propagation: Suckers. Chokeberry will readily ground layer in spring and summer. Softwood cuttings in spring.
Sow seeds outside in autumn.
Styles and Forms: Clump, multitrunk
Species and Cultivars: A. arbutifolia Red Chokeberry. White flowers, red berries, red to purplish autumn foliage.
Zone 6. The species and the cultivar 'Brilliantissima' are sometimes confused by nurseries, and a plant labeled as
such could be either one. 'Brilliantissima' tend to be more free flowering and produce showier fruit than the basic
species.
A. melanocarpa Black Chokeberry. Upright, mounded habit. White blossoms and small black berries that persist
through winter. Glossy green foliage in summer, turning to a mahogany red in autumn. 'Autumn Magic' known for
it's larger fruit.
A. X prunifolia Purple Chokeberry. White blossoms, purple black fruit. Similar to A. melanocarpa.
Other Information:
flowers in the spring, deep green, finely toothed foliage in summer, turning a brilliant, fiery red in autumn, and
small red or black fruit. Multi-stemmed, suckering habit, best for clump and multiple trunk style bonsai. Fairly
disease and insect resistant. Chokeberry have a naturally shallow root system, making them good candidates for
pot cultivation. Look for unworked nursery stock.
Hardiness: Zone 4 to zone 6 in landscape. Winter protection.
Light: Full sun for best flowering and fruiting. Will tolerate partial shade.
Soil: Tolerates a wide range of soil compositions provided it is free draining and has some moisture retention
qualities.
Watering: Prefer even moisture, neither allowed to dry out or remain too wet.
Fertilizer: Balanced or low nitrogen fertilizer in the spring every two weeks. Balanced fertilizer in the summer,
every two weeks. Taper off with a nitrogen free mix in autumn.
Pests and Diseases: Largely disease free. Watch for birds and other animals that want to eat the berries, they may
cause other damage.
Repotting: Every one to two years, as needed. Light root pruning.
Pruning and Styling: Cut back new growth to two leaves in spring. Prune back to a live bud or leaf. Major pruning
in early spring. Wire in winter or early spring when the interior structure is easiest to see.
Propagation: Suckers. Chokeberry will readily ground layer in spring and summer. Softwood cuttings in spring.
Sow seeds outside in autumn.
Styles and Forms: Clump, multitrunk
Species and Cultivars: A. arbutifolia Red Chokeberry. White flowers, red berries, red to purplish autumn foliage.
Zone 6. The species and the cultivar 'Brilliantissima' are sometimes confused by nurseries, and a plant labeled as
such could be either one. 'Brilliantissima' tend to be more free flowering and produce showier fruit than the basic
species.
A. melanocarpa Black Chokeberry. Upright, mounded habit. White blossoms and small black berries that persist
through winter. Glossy green foliage in summer, turning to a mahogany red in autumn. 'Autumn Magic' known for
it's larger fruit.
A. X prunifolia Purple Chokeberry. White blossoms, purple black fruit. Similar to A. melanocarpa.
Other Information:
Chokeberry (Aronia)