Aronia (Chokeberry) Plant Profile

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa previously known as Pyrus melanocarpa and Photinia melanocarpa) and red chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) are deciduous shrubs that are native to eastern North America and bear fruits that are eaten by birds and other wildlife.

These shrubs have three seasons of interest with showy white flowers in the spring, fruits in late summer, and vibrant foliage in the fall. The plants are self-pollinated, but are also pollinator-friendly and attractive to bees, butterflies, and ants. Both kinds of chokeberry shrubs grow to about 3 to 6 feet wide and high. They are hardy to USDA Zones 3 to 9. They reproduce from seed and sending up suckers, which you can prune out or dig and plant elsewhere. They tolerate some shade and prefer moist sites, but will grow in drier soils as well. In the landscape, they can be used in mass plantings for erosion control and windbreaks. Chokeberry can also be grown as an edible fruit crop for humans. However, the fruit is too astringent to be eaten raw. It is normally prepared in baked goods and made into jams, jellies, syrup, tea, juice, and wine. Note that Aronia or Chokeberry is NOT the same as Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana). There are some selected Chokeberry cultivars available commercially that are more compact and better-behaving for the garden setting. They include ‘Autumn Magic’, ‘Viking’, ‘Nero’, and ‘Iroquois Beauty’. Aronia: You Can Grow That! The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners. Audio and text by Kathy Jentz Video by Cassie Peo ➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!) ➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out ➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE ~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com ~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener ~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/ ~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine ~ Podcast: GardenDC If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles: ~ Loropetalum:

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/05/loropetalum-plant-profile.html ~ Japanese Andromeda:

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/pieris-japonica-plant-profile.html ~ Dwarf Flowering Almond:

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/flowering-almond-plant-profile.html ~ Flowering Quince: https://youtu.be/pl8rAgzJ40E?si=3lF83le8N9XpcjjX ~ Spirea: https://youtu.be/Dp1vbWuiuG8?si=c3t-nmgTG0H5XDOX ~ Weigela: https://youtu.be/tUsZZj3iTHU?si=FfB5ld0g-LhlaYwL ~ Daphne: https://youtu.be/rOXRQ_xWywE?si=EhvSQE7J1MDYpQij

Monday Thoughts: “But it’s gardening that’s needed here. And that isn’t learned in a day. Gardening, that’s what this place needs.“ ~ Agatha Christie - “A Murder is Announced”

“But it’s gardening that’s needed here. And that isn’t learned in a day. Gardening, that’s what this place needs.“ ~ Agatha Christie - “A Murder is Announced”

GardenDC Podcast Episode 194: Local Garden Tours

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Fran Carden about Historic Garden Week and local garden tours. The plant profile is on Creeping Jenny and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Celebrating May Day from Christy Page of Green Prints.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 46: Garden Clubs in the 21st Century

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/02/gardendc-podcast-episode-46-garden.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 167: Flinging with the Garden Tourist

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/gardendc-podcast-episode-167-flinging.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 32: Garden Tours

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/10/gardendc-podcast-episode-32-garden.html

This episode is archived at: 

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/episodes/Local-Garden-Tours-e2jfkpg

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

SHOW NOTES will be posted after 5-14-2024.

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179
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• YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine
• Google Podcasts at this link (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices.)

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:

Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

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Fenton Friday: Adventures in Lettuce Growing

Guest Post by Cassie Peo 

This past semester while interning at the Washington Gardener Magazine, I got to plant and watch a variety of edibles grow. At the start of this internship, I was very new to gardening and did not know what the best edibles to grow would be, but Kathy Jentz helped me decide what I should plant. I decided to grow red & green cutting lettuce, Bloomsdale spinach, arugula, and dill and got all of the seeds at the annual Washington Gardener Seed Exchange at the beginning of the semester. I planted the dill in late February and the lettuces and arugula in early March. Unfortunately, the dill was not ready to harvest before my last day of the term, but the lettuce, spinach, and arugula were ready for harvest. 

When the plants first started sprouting, I had to thin them out so they weren’t overcrowded, and I had to cut back some of the tall (overwintered) arugula that was planted next to mine so my arugula wouldn't get shaded out. I had no idea that was something I needed to do but enjoyed learning about the process of taking care of the baby sprouts, and found that I could eat them at that stage too.

In the weeks after thinning the sprouts, the lettuce and arugula filled in all of the gaps and were doing much better with more space. I really enjoyed weeding and thinning the sprouts as they grew over the course of the semester, as it was very calming. 

After harvesting on my last garden visit, I used the arugula, spinach. and lettuce to make a salad with cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, mozzarella cheese, and Trader Joe’s “Green Goddess Dressing” and it was amazing! Getting to eat the edibles I grew myself was very rewarding and made my salad taste even better. 

I had a lot of fun growing and harvesting these edible plants this semester and feel inspired to continue growing edibles in my own garden at home this summer. 

What are you growing in your edible garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 13th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

About the Author:
Cassie Peo was an editorial intern with Washington Gardener Magazine during the Spring 2024 semester.

Kerria Plant Profile

Kerria Plant Profile

Japanese Kerria (Kerria japonica) is a deciduous, spring-blooming shrub with clusters of yellow blossoms in early- to mid-spring. It is a member of the Rose family and is also known as the Japanese Rose, Easter Rose, and Bachelor’s Buttons.  It is native to China, Korea, and Japan.

This shrub thrives in part-shade and prefers well-draining soil. If you plant it in full sun, the flowers will quickly fade.

Kerria can grow to 7 feet tall and 9 feet wide. It is hardy to USDA Zones 4 to 9.  It doesn’t need any fertilizers or other amendments.

It produces multiple stems. The cane-like growth can be tamed by pruning it shortly after the flowers end for the season. You can cut any stray suckers out  to control weedy and leggy growth. This plant benefits from an occasional hard pruning back to the ground every few years.

Kerria attracts butterflies and hummingbirds to its abundant flowers. It is deer-resistant and drought-tolerant.

Cultivars include  'Pleniflora', which has a double-flower form, 'Albiflora', which has a single, cream-white flowers, and ‘Golden Guinea’, which grows to only three to five feet high and wide.

Kerria: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine.

Audio, Photos, and Text by Kathy Jentz

Video and Editing by Cassie Peo

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

 

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Loropetalum: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/05/loropetalum-plant-profile.html

~ Japanese Andromeda: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/pieris-japonica-plant-profile.html

~ Dwarf Flowering Almond: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/flowering-almond-plant-profile.html

~ Flowering Quince https://youtu.be/pl8rAgzJ40E?si=3lF83le8N9XpcjjX

~ Spirea https://youtu.be/Dp1vbWuiuG8?si=c3t-nmgTG0H5XDOX

~ Weigela https://youtu.be/tUsZZj3iTHU?si=FfB5ld0g-LhlaYwL

~ Daphne https://youtu.be/rOXRQ_xWywE?si=EhvSQE7J1MDYpQij

 PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Monday Thoughts: "If your neighbors don’t think you’re a little crazy, you need to up your gardening game.” ~ Carol Michel

"If your neighbors don’t think you’re a little crazy, you need to up your gardening game.” ~ Carol Michel

GardenDC Podcast Episode 193: Epimediums

In this episode of GardenDC: The Podcast about Mid-Atlantic Gardening, we talk with Karen Perkins, all about epimediums, the jewels of the shade garden. The plant profile is on Lyreleaf Sage and we share what's going on in the garden as well as some upcoming local gardening events and this week's garden tasks in the What's New segment. We close out with the Last Word on Twice-baked Cauliflower from Christy Page of Green Prints.

UPDATE: There was a file error in the GardenDC Ep 194 Epimediums episode. It has been re-posted and you can re-download the corrected file now.

If you liked this episode, you may also enjoy listening to:

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 135: Plants for Shade

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2023/01/gardendc-podcast-episode-135-plants-for.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 18: Shade Growing

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2020/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-18-shade.html

~ GardenDC Podcast Episode 53: Superior Perennials

https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2021/07/gardendc-podcast-episode-68-summer.html

This episode is archived at: 

https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/TzTfIgezmJb

BTW, YOU can become a listener supporter for as little as $0.99 per month! 

See how at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/support.

SHOW NOTES will be posted after 5-7-2024.

The GardenDC podcast is also available on -

• Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardendc/id1502631179
• Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc
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• Samsung: search for GardenDC on the Sampsung app
• TuneIn: http://tun.in/pj7Sb
• Vurbl: https://vurbl.com/station/gardendc/
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/washingtongardenermagazine
• Google Podcasts at this link (note that currently, this link will only work on Android devices.)

We welcome your questions and comments! You can leave a voice mail message for us at: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gardendc/message Note that we may use these messages on a future episode.

And be sure to leave us a 5-star review on your favorite podcast platform plus share us on social media with #GardenDC, so other gardeners can find us too!

Episode Credits:

Host and Producer: Kathy Jentz

Interview Edit and Show Notes: Hannah Zozobrado

PIN THIS FOR LATER!

Fenton Friday: Rainy Days

Our spring weather pattern seems to be soggy weekends and then hot and windy weekdays. I never complain about the rain though! As too much is SOOOO much better than too little! We had some summer-like temps and are due for some more next week.

How hot did it get? Well, our cilantro has officially bolted (set flower) and the baby Arugula is trying to do the same (see photo above). We snipped off those forming arugula flowers and it is in a very shaded spot, so I'm crossing my fingers that it will give us a little longer before it gets bitter and peppery tasting.

The Dahlias and Potatoes left in the ground last fall are emerging -- so are the Potatoes I planted in the grow bag a month or so ago.

The Salad Greens are ready for harvesting, but it is still a bit too early on the Radishes and the Carrots are still many weeks away. The Dill and Parsley are coming along nicely. The Peas seem to be a bit of a bust. The Broccoli looks ready to cut soon.

Meanwhile, the Thornless Blackberry is dripping with hundreds of green fruits forming on it. I need to get a cover cloth or some kind of bird protection over it all soon!

The Onions and Garlic are growing big. I'm keeping my eye on them for possible early harvesting.

I've officially let the Asparagus go for the season. I don't have many Strawberry plants this year, despite my bed re-do last year, I think I need to just start from scratch on that portion of the garden.

My plans are to sow the cutting garden seeds - Cosmos, Zinnias, etc. in the next couple of weeks and then plant my warm season veggies - Tomatoes, Peppers, Okra, Zucchini, etc. after that.

What are you growing in your edible garden this week?

About Fenton Friday: Every Friday during the growing season, I'll be giving you an update on my community garden plot at the Fenton Street Community Garden just across the street from my house in zone 7 Mid-Atlantic MD/DC border. I'm plot #16. It is a 10 ft x 20 ft space and this is our 13th year in the garden. (It opened in May 2011.) See past posts about our edible garden by putting "Fenton" into the Search box above (at the top, left on this blog).

Loropetalum Plant Profile

Loropetalum Plant Profile

Loropetalum (Loropetalum chinense) is also known as the Chinese Fringe Flower. It is a member of the Witchhazel family and is native to China, Japan, and the Himalayas. It is a common ornamental plant throughout the southeastern United States and is starting to be seen more frequently in the Mid-Atlantic region. They are hardy to USDA zones 7-10.

It blooms in early spring with masses of white or purple-pink frilly flowers with a smattering of reblooms throughout the rest of the growing season.

Loropetalum is an evergreen shrub that can grow from 10 to 15 feet high and wide. There are also dwarf cultivars available. It can be pruned to control the size, but is better to plant it in a spot where it can attain its natural shape and form. They are often used as hedges, topiaries, or limbed up to form small trees.

Plant them in full- to part sun locations with moist, well-drained, acidic soil and add plenty of organic matter. Mulch around them well. You can add a slow-release fertilizer in spring, if you wish.

Loropetalum: You Can Grow That!

The video was produced by Washington Gardener Magazine as part of our Plant Profile series for Mid-Atlantic USA gardeners.

Audio, photos, and text by Kathy Jentz

Video and editing by Cassie Peo

➤ If you enjoy this video, please give it a thumbs up and subscribe to our Youtube channel (thank you!)

➤Remember to TURN ON notifications to know when our new videos are out

➤ FIND Washington Gardener Magazine ONLINE

~ WashingtonGardener.blogspot.com

~ http://twitter.com/WDCGardener

~ https://www.instagram.com/wdcgardener/

~ Facebook.com/WashingtonGardenerMagazine

~ Podcast: GardenDC

If you liked this video, we think you will like these other Plant Profiles:

~ Japanese Andromeda: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/pieris-japonica-plant-profile.html

~ Dwarf Flowering Almond: https://washingtongardener.blogspot.com/2024/04/flowering-almond-plant-profile.html

~ Flowering Quince https://youtu.be/pl8rAgzJ40E?si=3lF83le8N9XpcjjX

~ Spirea https://youtu.be/Dp1vbWuiuG8?si=c3t-nmgTG0H5XDOX

~ Weigela https://youtu.be/tUsZZj3iTHU?si=FfB5ld0g-LhlaYwL

~ Daphne https://youtu.be/rOXRQ_xWywE?si=EhvSQE7J1MDYpQij

PIN THIS FOR LATER!