Aronia arbutifolia - Red Chokeberry...update on cuttings from last year.

In 2007 I took a cutting from an aronia/chokeberry to use in the raingarden.
Last years posting 2007/09/growing-from-seed-taking-cuttings shows that it had rooted well and was growing.
Well I have not planted that cutting yet because I was worried about the rabbits eating it to the ground and keeping it that way. After the stems are thick enough and the shrub mature enough the critters seem to look for other food sources,(unless snow is deep enough to allow access to the tips).

So look what a year brings in growth. That is a 3 foot yardstick to show how tall the aronia has grown. After overwintering in the red folgers coffee can, buried and covered with a wire cage, it was transplanted to a larger container. I sort of wish I had just planted it into the ground and caged last year. Now I must dig a much bigger hole.

Look close and you can even see a few berries that will turn red as the leaves change making a lovely fall display . Several pictures of habit, berries and red foliage if you check the link .


The seedlings of Prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis), Echinacea pallida and Baptisia australis (Blue Wild Indigo) were all planted out and growing well, but have not flowered this year. Patience is required when growing from seed.