JULY-AUG 2018 – Mark Brand, a professor of horticulture at UConn, recently introduced two new varieties of black chokeberry: Low Scape® Mound (UC165) and Low Scape® Hedger (UC166).
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is native to the Eastern U.S. so we can use the term nativar instead of the more generic cultivar. Nativar is a term coined by Dr. Allan Armitage to indicate cultivars and hybrids derived from native plants.
There’s a growing interest in using native plants and an increasing demand for improved varieties that perform well in our landscapes.
The development process, which used traditional hybridizing techniques, took about 10 years.
Both of these varieties flower on old wood so, if pruning is required, do so after blooming. They’re hardy in Zones 3-8.
Low Scape® Mound (UC165)
Mound is a smaller compact variety that works well as an ornamental shrub. It has abundant white flowers in the spring and edible dark purple-black fruit in the fall.
Low Scape Mound® Aronia has been named the 2019 Landscape Shrub of the Year by Proven Winners (see previous page). They say it’s ideal for low-maintenance mass planting.
The glossy green leaves turn intense shades of orange and red in the fall. This plant will reach to 2′ high by 2′ wide, will grow in a variety of conditions and is low maintenance.
According to Proven Winners it can be used for edging or as a groundcover, in a container as a spiller, in a border, or in mass plantings. It’s suitable for full sun or partial sun and is drought- and salt-tolerant.
Low Scape® Hedger (UC166)
Hedger has a more upright form. It grows 3-5′ tall and 2-3′ wide in a dense column that makes an ideal hedge or screen. This variety bears little or no fruit.
It sports white flowers in the spring and yellow, orange and red leaves in the fall. It’s low maintenance and is adaptable to a variety of conditions: sun or part shade, dry or wet, hot or cold.
Availability
Both varieties are being grown by Proven Winners (provenwinners.com). Inquire about availability at your local independent garden center. One or both nativars are available at Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, Ganim’s Garden Center in Fairfield, Hollandia Nurseries in Bethel, Meadowbrook Gardens in New Milford, Oliver Nurseries in Greenfield Hill (Fairfield) and White Flower Farm in Morris.
Future Plans
Brand said there should be another low-growing black chokeberry available in 2019. He’s also working on some fruit-bearing varieties that will be similar to Aronia mitschurinii ‘Viking.’
In addition, he’s evaluating five red chokeberries with a neater appearance that are 4-5′ tall and branched to the ground.
Further down the road, Brand and Jessica Lubell (aka Native Plant Gal), an associate professor at UConn, are evaluating a number of natives for future development as nativars.
Low Scape® Mound in flower.
Low Scape® Hedger in flower.
Low Scape® Mound fall foliage.
Low Scape® Mound berries.
