Chokeberry, Low Scape Hedger Aronia melanocarpa 'UCONNAM166' Height: 5 feet Spacing: 30 inches
Sunlight:
Hardiness Zone: 3a Other Names: Chokeberry Brand: Proven Winners Description: A compact, well branched variety with glossy dark green leaves, and showy white flowers in spring; bears little or no fruit; a great choice for low hedging or screening; fall foliage lights up in bright reds and oranges; very adaptable Ornamental Features Chokeberry, Low Scape Hedger features showy panicles of white flowers with brick red anthers at the ends of the branches in mid spring. It has forest green deciduous foliage. The glossy oval leaves turn outstanding shades of orange and in the fall. Landscape Attributes Chokeberry, Low Scape Hedger is a multi-stemmed deciduous shrub with an upright spreading habit of growth. Its average texture blends into the landscape, but can be balanced by one or two finer or coarser trees or shrubs for an effective composition. This shrub will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best pruned in late winter once the threat of extreme cold has passed. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration; Chokeberry, Low Scape Hedger is recommended for the following landscape applications; Planting & Growing Chokeberry, Low Scape Hedger will grow to be about 5 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 3 feet. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 30 inches apart. It tends to be a little leggy, with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground, and is suitable for planting under power lines. It grows at a slow rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 20 years. This shrub does best in full sun to partial shade. It is quite adaptable, prefering to grow in average to wet conditions, and will even tolerate some standing water. To help this plant achive its best flowering performance, periodically apply a flower-boosting fertilizer from early spring through into the active growing season. It is not particular as to soil type or pH, and is able to handle environmental salt. It is somewhat tolerant of urban pollution. This is a selection of a native North American species. Chokeberry, Low Scape Hedger makes a fine choice for the outdoor landscape, but it is also well-suited for use in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when grown in a container, it may not perform exactly as indicated on the tag - this is to be expected. Also note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.