Hello Friends,
Several of you asked for more information regarding the shrub I had to do my final presentation on for my Master Gardener class.
I am attaching some of my fact sheet that I presented as my final.
Black Chokeberry
The
black chokeberry is rising in popularity. A user friendly shrub that
gives your garden year around interest.
The
black chokeberry is a member of the rose family.
It
tolerates partial shade (up to 50 percent) but thrives in full sun.
Hardy to zone 3, it is an excellent choice for low lying wet areas
where only moss and mosquitoes flourish. Yet, it can acclimate itself
to dry, sandy locations.
The
leaves of black chokeberry emerge a medium green. Leaves are
alternate on the stems, simple, 1-3 inches in width. They are obovate
in shape (oval, but narrower at the base than near the tip), with
fine and regular teeth along the edges. Their upper surfaces are dark
green and lustrous, with dark glands on the upper surface of the
midrib. Lower leaf surfaces are lighter green. Both surfaces are
glabrous (smooth). The petioles are ¼ inch or less in length.
Leaves often grow only on the top 2/3 of plants. The leaves are
bright green as they develop in spring, and they darken as the season
progresses. In early spring the black chokeberry is a showy display
of clustered white flowers. Black chokeberry flowers have five white
petals, and numerous pink stamens. They open in mid – May, late
enough that they are not often affected by late spring frost. Primary
pollinators are small bees.
As
the season progresses, the leaves turn a deep, glossy green, which
brightens the plant and heightens its appeal during the dog days of
summer. In mid to late summer, the berries start to develop; within
two weeks many of the branches droop with heavy clusters of fruit.
Ripening a purplish black, the 1/3 inch berry persists into January.
The
black chokeberry is a Spring – flowering shrub. Spring –
flowering shrubs produce flowers on one year old wood. Spring
– flowering shrubs that sucker readily from the base benefit from
thinning. You should
prune these shrubs AFTER they have flowered in spring, but before the
next year’s flower buds are set. If you prune these shrubs in
winter or early spring, you will remove many of the flower buds.
Examples
of spring – flowering shrubs are: lilacs, forsythia, viburnums,
honeysuckle, chokeberry, mock orange, and weigela.
Why
prune shrubs?
Pruning
is important for a variety of reasons. Pruning can help control the
size of a shrub, direct growth, influence flowering or fruiting,
rejuvenate old, overgrown plants, or maintain plant health and
appearance. Pruning also encourages growth below the pruning cut.
Contact
your local UW Extension for more information regarding pruning.
Should
you plant a Black Chokeberry?
The
black chokeberry is an adaptable shrub. It is moderately tolerant of
shade and prefers moist acidic soils, although it is adaptable to a
wide range of soil moisture, being found in both low wet lands and
dry sandy slopes.
The
black chokeberry tolerates salt spray, drought and soil compaction.
Insects
that cause problems to the black chokeberry
Two
Spotted Spider Mites
You
will notice the following complications on your black chokeberry if
Two Spotted Spider Mites are present.
White
to yellow stippling on foliage, clusters
of the mites and premature leaf drop.
You
can shake the leaves over a white paper plate and identify that you
have two spotted spider mites.
If
you have confirmed you have the two spotted spider mite, you can do
the following to help control the pest.
Physical
Control–
using a water hose, spray the infested leaves to dislodge some of the
mites. This can also wash away their protective webbing.
Natural
Control
–
Lady
Beetles
Chemical
Control - Miticides/Insecticides
using an insecticidal soap.
Clearwing
Borers
You
will notice larval feeding of the clearwing borers because
your
plants
will be wilted. Lower parts of stems are gnarled and scarred with
sawdust. Pupal
cases may be found sticking out of holes in the
bark
in spring.
Entire
bush may die – Plant mortality risk: High
Cultural
Control – avoid mechanical damage to the bark, do not band trees as
it has been shown to increase borer attack.
Chemical
Control – spray a long lasting, broad spectrum insecticide on the
trunk and limbs.
Biological
Control – Parasitic Wasps
Snowball
Aphid
You
will notice signs of snowball aphid damage if you have twisted,
curled, distorted and cupped leaves and shoots. Look for aphids on
underside of leaves. Adult aphids are bluish gray and bodies that
appear to be dusted with white powder. You can often find ants
tending the aphids.
Control
is usually not suggested, but using insecticidal soapy sprays reduce
the numbers.
Disease
that can cause problems to the black chokeberry
Black
chokeberry appears to have very few disease and pest problems.
Mildew
can become a problem when plants do not receive adequate sunlight and
air circulation. If you notice your leaves appear dusty and spores
can be rubbed off the plant tissue on to your fingers, you may have a
mildew problem.
Physical
Control – increasing air circulation and light penetration will
help. Shrubs should be pruned and thinned to reduce over crowding in
the landscape.
When
planting new shrubs, select those which have resistance to powdery
mildew and allow for adequate spacing of plants.
Chemical
Controls – Mildew seldom warrants chemical control. If you decide
to use a fungicide, Contact your local UW Extension for more
information.
Other
facts about the black chokeberry
The
black chokeberry is an amazing shrub. It has no serious stress or
pests, however, rabbits and deer enjoy browsing on the black
chokeberry.
It
is tolerant to salt, and is tolerant of compacted, wet, and dry
soils.
Reproduction
is primarily by seed.
Though
black chokeberry is native to eastern North America, it has been
planted extensively in Europe and Asia. In Russia, Denmark and
eastern Europe the fruit is widely used for juice and wine
production. The Europeans have developed several varieties which are
now available in the U.S. from commercial nurseries.
‘Viking’
is a vigorous, productive variety from Scandinavia, which can grow to
a height of six feet.
‘Nero’
is a shorter growing variety, reaching a height of 3 to 4 feet, with
dark blue berries. In the U.S. a selection from a native source in
Michigan is being sold as ‘Morton’ black chokeberry. It is
marketed in the Midwest under the trademark Iroquois Beauty™.
Prepared
by:
Carla
TePaske
References
USDA
- Black Chokeberry Plant Guide
UW
Extension Wisconsin – How to Properly Prune Deciduous Shrubs
UW
Green Bay – Shrubs of Wisconsin
University
of Maine – Black Chokeberry
UW
Madison –Dr. Brian Hudelson – Plant Disease
