Plant of the Week - Ground Hog(Hug) Aronia

Every now and then plants get renamed…sometimes quicker than you can blink.Take our pick for this week.This time last year, it was labeled as Aronia melanocarpa ‘Ground Hog’.But for whatever reason, we have been informed that the former Ground Hog Aronia is now known as ‘Ground Hug’ Aronia’.Either way, what we have here is one heck of a great ground cover-like shrub!Ground Hug forms a green matting that stays around 14 inches high and can spread about 36 or so inches!And being an aronia (chokeberry), this new introduction is tough, hardy, thick, flowers white flowers in the spring followed by black berries (yes very edible), basically requires no maintenance, takes full sun to partial sun or partial shade…as a matter of fact, once it fills in, you won’t need to mulch either!Drought tolerant, erosion control, containers, Nativar, attracts pollinators, edible…low deer browse…mass plantings, specimen, orange red fall colors…what more could you ask for?Aronia Ground Hug….this little ground ‘hog’ is one outstanding bushy ground cover.Add it the lists of Gro-Low Sumac, and Low Scape Mound Aronia for great ground covers a little bit taller!