Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia

40 Years of Growing Gardens and Gardeners

colorful fall leaves of rhus aromatica
Rhus aromatica ‘Gro-Lo’ (Fragrant Sumac) Photo © Mary Free
You are here: Home / Plants / Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic / Shrubs / Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)

Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)

Mature pomes of native Aronia arbutifolia
Persistent pome of native Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) amid developing flower buds and leaves in March.
Aronia arbutifolia flowers in April.
Corymbs of 1-inch flowers of Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) flowers in April.
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) suckers forming a colony in April.
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) developing fruit in June.
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) developing fruit in September.
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) maturing fruit in October.
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) mature pomes in November.
Aronia arbutifolia (red chokeberry) displays consistently brillant orange to bright red foliage in November.

Note: Click on images to see enlarged photos, captions, and photo attributions.
On a mobile phone, click on the information symbol (circle with a letter ℹ︎ symbol).

Aronia arbutifolia Red Chokeberry A cousin to Black Chokeberry, this native* shrub is truly a plant with four-season interest. Abundant spring flowers are followed by showy fall fruit that may persist into winter as an important food source for overwintering birds. Consistently brilliant fall foliage and exfoliating reddish-brown bark provide ornamental attraction through year’s end. Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic Shrub April Shrub, Flowers, Fruit and Fall Foliage Height: 6–12 feet Spread: 3–6 feet Bloom Color: White with pink anthers Characteristics Multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub with stiff, upright habit Alternate, elliptic, finely serrated, glossy, dark green leaves with pubescent, pale green undersides turn orange to bright red in fall Corymbs of 1-inch, five-petaled, white flowers with deep pink anthers in April Pome clusters mature Sep–Nov, persist into winter Reddish-brown exfoliating bark adds winter interest Colonizes easily by suckering Attributes Tolerates wet sites and occasional flooding; no serious insect problems; at times affected by leaf spot or rust; seldom severely damaged by deer Edible but astringent berries** used in jams & jellies Attracts bees, butterflies, flies to nectar/pollen and birds/mammals to fruit; larval host for lepidopterans Growing and Maintenance Tips Soil Requirements: Rich, acidic Excellent Replacement for Acer palmatum - Japanese Maple Light Requirements: Sun, Partial Shade Euonymus alatus - Burning Bush Water Requirements: Moist Plant in full sun for best flowering/fruit production Best in mass planting as single plants become leggy Lagerstroemia spp. - Crape Myrtle Stewartia pseudocamellia - Japanese Stewartia Viburnum plicatum - Doublefile Viburnum Use as screening hedge or to colonize natural areas *It is native to DC and common in DE. It is reported mostly in the Coastal Plain and parts of the Piedmont of MD and scattered in PA. It is frequent throughout VA. 
 ** Red chokeberry is more palatable than black chokeberry. Hardiness: USDA Zones 3a–9b developed by Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia, serving Arlington and Alexandria Images by Elaine Mills, private garden, Arlington, Virginia and (flowers) Glencarlyn Library Community Garden

Tried and True Native Plant Selections 
for the Mid-Atlantic

Print Version (Legal Size):
Aronia arbutifolia (Red Chokeberry)

A cousin to Black Chokeberry, this native* shrub is truly a plant with four-season interest. Abundant spring flowers are followed by showy fall fruit that may persist into winter as an important food source for overwintering birds. Consistently brilliant fall foliage and exfoliating reddish-brown bark provide ornamental attraction through year’s end.

*It is native to DC and common in DE. It is reported mostly in the Coastal Plain and parts of the Piedmont of MD and scattered in PA. It is frequent throughout VA. You can view the VA counties in which it has been reported here.

Learn more about other Mid-Atlantic plants: 
Tried and True Native Plant Fact Sheets