Common Names: Red Chokeberry
Scientific Name: Aronia arbutifolia
Size: quart
 
Shrub Characteristics
• Deciduous: Red Chokeberry is a deciduous shrub, shedding its leaves in the fall.
• Size: Typically grows 6–10 ft. tall and 3–6 ft. wide.
• Leaves: Alternate, simple, glossy green leaves with finely serrated edges that turn brilliant red to orange-red in autumn.
• Bloom Color: Clusters of small white flowers.
• Bloom Time: Spring
• Growth: 1–2 ft./year
• Age: Can live 20–30+ years.
 
Growing Conditions
• Water Use: Medium
• Light Requirement: Full Sun to Part Shade
• Soil Moisture: Medium to Wet
 
Ecological Benefits
Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia) is a native shrub of the Mid-Atlantic Piedmont, commonly found in wet woodlands, swamps, bogs, and along streambanks. Its spring flowers provide nectar and pollen for pollinators, while its bright red berries persist into fall and winter, providing an important food source for birds and other wildlife.
 
Its dense, upright growth provides valuable cover and nesting habitat for wildlife, while its extensive root system helps stabilize soil and reduce erosion. Its tolerance for moist soils makes it especially useful for rain gardens, wetland restoration, riparian buffers, and naturalized landscapes.
 
Local Ecotype: This plant is available as a local ecotype variety. Our team hand-collects seeds from native wildflowers growing in conservation areas we manage, and these plants are grown from that locally collected seed. Local ecotypes are adapted to the conditions of their native region and can help preserve local genetic diversity, support regional wildlife, and strengthen the ecological resilience of native plant communities.