AN UP-AND-COMING SUPER FOOD WITH BLAZING FALL COLOR TO BOOT!
FEATURES:
- Large clusters of juicy black fruit that are loaded with antioxidants appear in September
- Berries can be used for jams, jellies and juice - or left as winter snacks for the birds
- Self-fertile, so you only need one plant in order to get fruit
- Glossy green foliage turns shades of brilliant reds and oranges in the fall
- Beautiful white blossoms emerge in Spring for the pollinators to enjoy
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Mature Height: 5-10' tall
- Mature Width: 3-10' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 4-6' apart
McKenzie Chokeberry
Bower & Branch Trees and Plants
Aronia melanocarpa 'McKenzie'
Regular price
1(866) 873-3888
AN UP-AND-COMING SUPER FOOD WITH BLAZING FALL COLOR TO BOOT!
FEATURES:
- Large clusters of juicy black fruit that are loaded with antioxidants appear in September
- Berries can be used for jams, jellies and juice - or left as winter snacks for the birds
- Self-fertile, so you only need one plant in order to get fruit
- Glossy green foliage turns shades of brilliant reds and oranges in the fall
- Beautiful white blossoms emerge in Spring for the pollinators to enjoy
- Hand Selected, Fresh from the Grower
- Ships in a plant-safe designed box
Growth Facts
- Hardiness Zone: 3-8
- Mature Height: 5-10' tall
- Mature Width: 3-10' wide
- Exposure: Full Sun/Part Shade
- Spacing: 4-6' apart
Why plant McKenzie Chokeberry?
A tasty treat for you and the pollinators to enjoy! With three seasons of beauty and plenty to share, the McKenzie Chokeberry opens up the spring season with delicate white blossoms, politely unfolding for butterflies to adore and brightening your gardens. As the summer heat rolls in, plump purple berries begin to form, ripening in September, dotting the tree in juicy, delicious little berries. They shrivel up fast for great jam making, as you hear the songbirds singing as they finish off the ones you didn't pick! It may be a smaller tree, but it proudly shows off its fall foliage in deep shades of red and orange. It seems like McKenzie Chokeberry has it all!
Black Chokeberry is a superfood! That’s right—the bitter berry with the unappetizing name is gaining ground as a health food. And with good reason! The berries are higher in antioxidants than any other cold-hardy fruit (five times higher than blueberries), and they have cancer-fighting properties. A few companies have started turning chokeberries into juice; they blend it with apple or grape juice to make it palatable. You’ll find it marketed under its botanical name, Aronia. You can also buy frozen Aronia berries for muffins or bars or, better yet, grow your own!
How to use McKenzie Chokeberry in the landscape?
McKenzie Chokeberry is a member of the rose family with no close relations to chokecherry. In the spring, white flowers bloom, opening up to pollinating bees. By mid to late summer, berries start to form and are dark purple-black by September. The berries are small and very juicy, however, they will shrivel soon after ripening. With its blazing orange-red fall color, our native Chokeberry has been suggested as a more eco-friendly alternative to the ubiquitous Burning Bush, which has become invasive in many parts of the U.S. We think this is a great idea!
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 3-8
How To Plant McKenzie Chokeberry
Plant McKenzie in an area with full sun; part shade is okay too; the best fruit harvests will come from being exposed to full sun. As McKenzie can grow in average-medium moisture soil that is well-draining to growing in boggy conditions, soil requirements are very lax.
How To Water
McKenzie Chokeberry will appreciate watering deeply, and regularly during its first few years in the ground. Irrigate weekly, and especially during long dry spells or extreme heat after it’s established.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant food granular form on an annual basis each late fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
How To Prune
You will want to be sure to remove any suckers that start to grow to prevent the spread of McKenzie unless spreading is desired.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
