Aronia arbutifolia6-8' × 3-4' In The Best of the Hardiest, John Sabuco calls red chokeberry “one of our finest native landscape shrubs.”
Upright multi-stemmed form. Dense clusters of small white flowers with red stamens. Birds love the abundant persistent glossy bright red fruit.
With “brilliant” fall foliage, this plant is the best alternative to the invasive burning bush. Species native to eastern U.S. Z3/4. Maine Grown. (1–3')
Items from our perennial plants warehouse ordered
on or before March 7 will ship around March 31
through late April, starting with warmer areas and finishing in
colder areas. Orders placed after March 7 will
ship around late April through early-to-mid May, in the order in
which they were received.
ships in spring
7514
‘Brilliantissima’ Red Chokeberry
Additional Information
Small Trees and Shrubs
As Green’s Nursery catalog from 1904 explains, “There are many trees that by pruning can be made to resemble shrubs, and many shrubs that by different pruning may be made to produce medium-sized trees.”
Chokeberries Aronia spp.
Aronia has gotten a lot of press in recent years as a superfruit: it has wonderful medicinal qualities, works well in a range of culinary applications and is an important wildlife plant in the native landscape. Both red (A. arbutifolia) and black (A. melanocarpa) chokeberries are edible when cooked, but we emphasize the red for wildlife, while the black may be a better choice for medicine and food. Black chokeberries are commercially cultivated for their high levels of antioxidants and myriad health benefits. Both species are small rounded shrubs with blueberry-sized fruit and electric-red fall foliage.
Begins to bear fruit in its third year and increases to full yield around five years. Ripens in late July or early August. If not harvested, the berries will hang on the bushes until songbirds eat them in late winter. Will form colonies, especially when planted in partial shade. Not particularly picky about where it grows: adaptable to moist or dry areas, sun or partial shade. Native to eastern U.S. Self-fruitful.
