A tall, multi-stemmed native shrub with abundant white flowers, red glossy berries, and outstanding red fall color. Red chokeberry is a tough, dependable plant with three-season interest, especially in shady, wet sites. It works well in a naturalized landscape or garden.
"This species is native to the Chicago Region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research."
This plant has some cultivated varieties. Go to list of cultivars.
Botanical name:
All Common Names:
Family (English):
Family (Botanic):
Tree or Plant Type:
- Shrub
Foliage:
- Deciduous (seasonally loses leaves)
Native Locale:
- Chicago area,
- Illinois,
- North America
Landscape Uses:
- Hedge,
- Massing,
- Mixed border,
- Specimen
Size Range:
- Large shrub (more than 8 feet),
- Medium shrub (5-8 feet)
Light Exposure:
- Full sun (6 hrs direct light daily),
- Partial sun/shade (4-6 hrs light daily)
Hardiness Zones:
- Zone 4,
- Zone 5 (Chicago),
- Zone 6,
- Zone 7,
- Zone 8,
- Zone 9
Soil Preference:
- Acid soil,
- Alkaline soil,
- Moist, well-drained soil,
- Wet soil
Tolerances:
- Wet sites,
- Occasional flooding,
- Alkaline soil
Season of Interest:
- Early winter,
- Mid spring,
- Late spring,
- Early fall,
- Mid fall,
- Late fall
Flower Color & Fragrance:
- White
Shape or Form:
- Multi-stemmed,
- Thicket-forming,
- Upright
Growth Rate:
- Slow
More Information:
Size and Form
5 to 10 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide; upright shrub with a suckering habit.
Tree & Plant Care
Grows best in moist soil but tolerant of dry once established.
Full sun to part shade. Mulch to conserve moisture.
Place at back the border because plant tends to be somewhat bare on the lower stems.
Prune in spring, after flowering.
Prune out unwanted suckers to control size.
Disease, pests and problems
No serious disease or insect problems.
Native geographic location and habitat
C-Value: 6
Native to the eastern United States; often found in wet areas.
Attracts birds & butterflies
Fruit is eaten by a number of bird species, usually in mid to late winter.
Bark color and texture
Reddish brown bark when young, changing to grayish-brown with age.
Leaf or needle arrangement, size, shape, and texture
Alternate, simple leaves; 2 1/2 inches long, oval in shape, dark green with finely toothed margins.
Red to reddish purple fall color.
Flower arrangement, shape, and size
White, five-petaled flowers arranged in small corymbs (clusters).
Fruit, cone, nut, and seed descriptions
Chokeberry fruit is fleshy, berry-like pome, bright red when ripe.
Cultivars and their differences
This plant is a cultivar of a species that is native to the Chicago Region according to Swink and Wilhelm's Plants of the Chicago Region, with updates made according to current research. Cultivars are plants produced in cultivation by selective breeding or via vegetative propagation from wild plants identified to have desirable traits."
Brilliant Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima'): 6 to 8 feet high and 3 to 5 feet wide; upright habit. Glossy green leaves turn a brilliant scarlet in the fall. Flowers are more abundant and the fruits are larger.