Overview
Uses: Groundcover, slopes, mass plantings, and pollinator gardens.
Benefits: A native black chokeberry that grows as a low, dense groundcover under 14 inches tall. White spring flowers feed pollinators, dark purple-black berries follow, and the glossy leaves turn red and orange in fall. Handles wet or dry soil.
USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9
Sun: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Life Cycle: Deciduous Shrub
Growth Habit: Spreading, Groundcover — low, dense mat.
Bloom Color: White
Foliage Color: Glossy Green, turning Red and Orange in fall
Mature Height: 8–14 inches
Mature Width: 3 feet
Bloom Season: Spring
Growth Rate: Moderate
Summary
A native shrub that covers ground like a perennial.
Black chokeberry is normally a medium-sized upright shrub, but Ground Hug® stays low. This selection grows only 8 to 14 inches tall and spreads into a dense, leafy mat about 3 feet wide, making it one of the few woody native plants that can cover ground the way a traditional groundcover does.
In spring it is dotted with small clusters of white flowers that bees visit readily. Dark purple-black berries follow, and in fall the glossy green leaves turn shades of red and orange, bringing low-level color at a time of year when most groundcovers are simply going dormant.
It also handles conditions that challenge many groundcovers, from damp low spots to dry, sunny banks, and it adapts to clay as well as lighter soils. Use it to cover a slope, edge a walk, fill in beneath taller shrubs, or replace a hard-to-mow patch of lawn.
Care
Ground Hug® Black Chokeberry Care
Plant in full sun to partial shade. Full sun gives the most flowers and the brightest fall color; plants in partial shade still grow well, with softer autumn tones.
Chokeberry is very adaptable about soil. It grows in moist or periodically wet ground, in clay, and in drier, sandy sites, and it prefers slightly acidic conditions. Strongly alkaline soil can cause yellowing leaves.
Water once or twice a week through the first growing season while roots establish. Established plants handle both wet periods and short dry spells. Mulch between young plants to keep weeds down until they knit together.
Feeding needs are light. An application of slow release fertilizer in early spring helps a new planting fill in faster; established plants rarely need it.
No regular pruning is required. Plants spread slowly by underground stems to form a mat. If a stem grows taller than the rest, cut it to the ground in late winter, and trim the edges as needed to keep the planting within its space.
Size
What Size is the Ground Hug® Black Chokeberry for Sale Online?
Our Ground Hug® Black Chokeberry ships in a greenhouse-grade grow pot and is appropriately sized for its container at the time of shipment. Plants ship dormant or near dormant in the off-season, so they may arrive with few or no leaves. If you have specific sizing or planting questions, please contact us.
How Large Does Ground Hug® Black Chokeberry Grow?
Expect about 8 to 14 inches tall and around 3 feet wide at maturity, in a low, spreading mat. For solid coverage, space plants about 2 to 3 feet apart; closer spacing fills in sooner.
Additional Information
What is the botanical name of Ground Hug® Black Chokeberry?
The botanical name is Aronia melanocarpa Ground Hug® ‘UCONNAM012’. It is a Proven Winners® ColorChoice® Flowering Shrub selected for its low, groundcover habit.
What are some common names for this plant?
It is usually called black chokeberry, and is also sold simply as aronia.
Is Ground Hug® Black Chokeberry a native plant?
It is a selection of Aronia melanocarpa, which is native to eastern North America. Selections like this one are often called nativars: they keep the flowers, fruit, and fall color of the native species in a form suited to a particular garden use. Browse more Native Plants of North America.
Can I use it instead of a traditional groundcover?
Yes. Because it is a woody shrub, it holds its shape year after year rather than dying back to the ground, and it adds flowers, berries, and fall color that most groundcovers lack. It is especially useful on slopes and in large areas where mowing or weeding is a chore. For more low-growing options, see our Groundcovers.
