Shrubs of Wisconsin

Aronia X prunifolium (Marshall) Roehder
hybrid chokeberry
Family: Rosaceae
shrub branch
early summer
leaf
(undersurface)
fruit
 

Aronia X prunifolia is a shrub with simple, finely-toothed alternate leaves, and a scattering of coarse, dark hairs along the upper side of the leaf midrib. Flowers have 5 bright white petals, in general appearance not unlike many other woody species in this family, and fruits are 5-7 mm in diameter, juicy, and dark purple to black. Leaves and twigs are usually gray or whitish tomentose, unlike the glabrous twigs and leaves of the very similar Aronia melanocarpa. It is generally a bushy, low plant seldom exceeding 2 meters in Wisconsin, though sometimes reaching greater heights farther south.

Aronia X prunifolia is usually a species of wet, sunny or partly shaded sites, although some sites may become quite dry as the growing season progresses. Habitat is similar to A. melanocarpa, often as a shoreline species of lakes or streams or at the interface of marshes or bogs with adjacent uplands on sandy soils. It seems to be widely distributed in Wisconsin.

 


known Wisconsin distribution

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