Chokeberry & Indigobush questions

16 years ago

Amorpha fruticosa - Indigobush and Aronia arbutifolia - 'Brilliantissima'

I'm considering both these plants and wonder if anyone could tell me a little more about them. I've read a lot of good stuff, but am wondering about possible negatives. Would like to avoid a disappointment. For instance, bought a serviceberry a couple of years ago from a local nursery and it has been terrible - getting rust every year - so I learned the hard way serviceberry isn't a good match for all the cedars in my area. So anything you can warn/prepare me for in the way of negatives for either of these 2 shrubs/trees would be a big help. A couple of things I'm wondering about in regard to the chokeberry are how bad does it sucker, and does it have thorns, and what about fungal disease? I live in East TN and we have a lot of hot humid weather, plus in my particular (rural)area as I mentioned above we have a lot of cedar trees. The areas in my yard I'm considering these 2 for have heavy alkaline clay soil, and tends to stay pretty damp.

Thanks in advance for any info you can share,

Frances

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Comments (4)

agrigirl
16 years ago
Frances,

The indigobush is native to TN so it will tolerate the soil conditions well. In particular they can handle from moist to sandy soils and can handle the clay loam, and clay. They are pH adaptable.

In addition, given you are, I am assuming, in the Appalachian Mountain range then you will have either sandstone or limestone as your bedrock. For example the Blue Ridge area is sandstone but the Folded Appalachians (knoxville area) is lower ridges and valleys which are limestone. Either way, the indigo bush can handle areas moderate in calcium (which is where your limestone comes into play) or sandy (Sandstone). So I believe you would be ok.

They do need moist soil environment with sun to part shade. So your soil remaining damp (not sopping wet I assume) would be ok. Providing your cedars do not out-shade the plants anyway.

Now for the chokeberry. It has its downs for your garden. First, it requires a slightly acidic environment (I am going to take an educated guess here in regards to your serviceberry. It requires acidic conditions Have you taken a stop at McMinnville? You know, the plant lovers Disney Land? LOL I would think you would be able to get some sound advice from the native plant growers there (if that is near enough to you anyway) when you are purchasing your plants. I would have hoped where you purchased your serviceberry would have advised you it would not work there, sorry that you lost the plant.

I hope this helps a little to explain slightly more about the plants you are wanting to add to your native garden.
krikit
Original Author
16 years ago
WOW - thanks so much Agrigirl - that is exactly the type info I was hoping for. It seems so many of the plants I'd love to grow are not happy in my area and you've just given me the best explanation of why. I live just northeast of Knoxville, but friends living just a county away (Sevier County at the foothills of the Smokies)are able to grow what I can't. Dug my serviceberry up and gave to my friend there and it thrives for him. But can't afford the $$ for that kind of trial and error too often. I am constantly digging out rock here on my property.

McMinnville is a little further away but would be worth the drive. Sounds like the indigobush would do well here so I think I'm going to give it a try - unless there is something about the shrub itself that you think would be undesirable for the garden.

Thanks again!!!
Frances
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agrigirl
16 years ago
Frances,

Well I know it can be "weedy" or invasive in the Northeast. But considering your location I think you will be fine. Just keep an eye on it and prune as needed and give it space to grow up to 6-10 feet in height. It will form a nice thicket for you.

Glad I could help! I just took a look at the Sevier County soil survey. It makes sense that this plant does well there as that area tends to have soil that is a silt loam or a silt clay loam and well drained (due to the slopes) deep soil (more than 60 inches before hitting bedrock).

Sounds like you live in an area similar to where I once lived. I lived in a town called Rockfield. And there is a reason it was given that name! I broke many spades attempting to plant something. And God forbid you try to put in fence posts! LOL I was always having to build up a planting area before it could be favorable.

Here is a link to one of the many native plant nurseries in McMinnville.
Hills Creek Nursery: http://www.hcnnativeplants.com/

Also, many years ago I bought a book by Judy Lowe titled Tennessee and Kentucky Gardener's Guide. Overall it has been a useful book, although I admit I have found a few discrepancies. Such as: it details Lycoris (common name Surprise lillies) as being perennial to zone 7. But I live in zone 6b and have them in my yard popping up foliage now. But none the less, I have had some good use of the book. You can get it here used for only $7.99
http://www.amazon.com/Tennessee-Kentucky-Gardeners-Guide-Judy/dp/1591861195

Good luck with your plantings Frances!
terryr
16 years ago
We lived for a short time in south eastern TN. I drove thru McMinnville quite a few times. I never saw a place that had a retail sign up. They were all wholesale. So maybe I didn't look hard enough, I don't know. There's a nursery 20 miles north of Knoxville, Sunlight Gardens. I haven't gone thru their website or gotten their catalog in awhile, but it might be worth your time to either drive there or call and just ask questions. The link is below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sunlight Gardens

Chokeberry & Indigobush questions

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agrigirl

krikit
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Chokeberry & Indigobush questions

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