Aronia arbutifolia

Common Names

Red Chokeberry, Chokeberry

Summary

Red chokeberry is a native North American deciduous shrub with an upright, multi-stem habit that typically grows 6–10 feet tall and 3–5 feet wide, often forming colonies via suckering, in spring it bears small white flowers on 1.5-inch corymbs that are not particularly showy, summer foliage is dark green and turns crimson to purple-red in fall, and bright red berries appear later, persisting into fall and winter, it tolerates a wide range of soils from wet to dry and performs best in full sun, with hardiness in zones 4–9, the plant is easily transplanted and spreads by root suckers, forming colonies suitable for mass plantings, borders, naturalized areas, erosion control near ponds or streams, or hedges, unwanted suckers can be removed to manage size, fruits are edible but very tart when eaten raw and are commonly used to make jams and jellies, flowers attract bees and butterflies, and berries provide food for birds, supporting wildlife gardens and landscapes

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

5-10 feet

Spread

3-5 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 3-9

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally Full Sun; tolerates Partial Sun/Partial Shade.

Soil Type

No single ideal soil; adaptable to a wide range—from moist or wet boggy to dry or poor—tolerating both wet and dry conditions, with pH around 5.0–8.0.

Soil Drainage

Moist, well-drained soil

Soil pH

5.0-8.0, adaptable to acidic to alkaline soils, no single ideal pH specified

Bloom Color

White

Bloom Time

Spring (late May to early June)

Foliage Color

Green in summer and turns red in fall.

Fall Foliage Color

Red to purple-red, often with orange-red tones in sunny locations

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Slow

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.

Propagation Methods

Seeds, Cuttings, Division, Layering

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts bees, butterflies, other pollinators, birds