Sound like you may have watered it too much too soon. If several days later was less than 7 and the temp where you are isn't sweltering heat, the first watering should have been able to hold it until the next rain or watering.

Also, does that area drain well or does it have a bit too much clay in the soil? I don't want to tell you to dig up your shrub, add some compost or other rotted, organic matter to the hole and soil around the hole and then replant it because so soon after the initial planting may cause shock.

Hopefully, someone else has had your problem with shrubs before. I had the problem with potted roses back in 05 that I'd just planted and then the bottom leaves yellowed and fell off. Too much water; I let them dry out; they bounced back nicely.

I hope this helps!

Thanks for your reply, Chigardener. I don't think the problem is overwatering. I watered the shrub before planting, but the second time I watered it was after the leaves had started to turn (planted on a Saturday, watered second time on Friday, after several days of hot, dry weather).

As far as drainage goes, it was planted in good garden soil, with good drainage, and leaf mold was added to the planting hole.

I'm wondering if the problem isn't just transplant shock, maybe relating in part to the fact that we've had an unseasonably wet, cool spring here in central Maryland, but right after I planted the chokeberry, it got hot and dry for several days.

I guess time will tell.

The exact same thing happened when I planted a Rose glow Japanese Barberry two years ago. It was definitely transplant shock. It dropped every leaf within a couple of days and I was sure it was dead, but within no time, it was covered with new leaves. Hope your luck was as good as mine!

Thanks, tishfromwis, hope you're right. When I checked on it today, I found that the deer had discovered it and eaten many of the leaves that were still green! Guess I'm going to have to put some caging around it to protect it until it can get some size to it.

how has your chokeberry turned out?