Red Chokeberry Bush

Red Chokeberry (Aronia arbutifolia 'Brilliantissima') puts on a show in every season, starting with clusters of small white flowers in late spring that draw bees and butterflies. By late summer, those blooms transform into masses of glossy red berries that hang in heavy clusters and persist well into winter. But the real showstopper comes in autumn when the foliage ignites into shades of brilliant scarlet, orange, and crimson that rival any ornamental shrub in the landscape.

A Native Shrub with Four-Season Appeal

This improved selection of our native red chokeberry was chosen for its exceptionally bright fall color and heavy berry production. The 'Brilliantissima' cultivar delivers more intense reds and oranges than seedling-grown plants, making it a standout in fall gardens.

Spring brings delicate clusters of five-petaled white flowers with prominent pink anthers. These blooms are not only attractive but serve as an important early nectar source for native bees, honeybees, and early butterflies emerging from winter dormancy. The glossy dark green foliage fills in quickly, creating a dense, upright habit that reaches 6 to 10 feet tall and 4 to 6 feet wide at maturity.

Berries That Feed the Birds

The bright red berries that develop by late summer are technically edible for humans, though extremely tart and astringent when raw (hence the name "chokeberry"). Birds seem to find them more palatable, and songbirds like cedar waxwings, robins, and mockingbirds will descend on the shrub once other food sources become scarce in late winter. The berries often persist from September through February, providing critical nutrition when wildlife needs it most.

Thrives Where Others Struggle

Red Chokeberry evolved in the swamps, bogs, and low woodlands of eastern North America. This heritage means it handles wet feet, clay soil, and poor drainage better than almost any ornamental shrub. Rain gardens, bioswales, and that perpetually soggy corner of your yard are all fair game. It also tolerates drought once established, making it one of the most adaptable native shrubs available.

Landscape Uses

Plant Red Chokeberry in mass plantings for a stunning fall display, or use it as a wildlife hedge along property lines. The upright growth habit works well as a screen or backdrop for perennial borders. It naturalizes beautifully at the edge of woodlands, along streams, or in meadow plantings. Because it suckers slowly to form colonies, you can plant a few specimens and let them fill in over time, or remove suckers annually to maintain individual plants.

This native shrub requires almost no care once established. Deer typically leave it alone, and it has few pest or disease issues. For a low-maintenance plant that delivers spring flowers, summer berries, spectacular fall color, and winter bird activity, Red Chokeberry is hard to beat.