Family: Rosaceae
Name: Aronia arbutifolia - Red Chokeberry
Bloom Time: March - May
Flowers: White with red anthers
Fruit: Red
Soil Condition: average-wet, well drained
Light: Sun to Partial Shade
Height: 6-10' tall by 4-8' wide
Native Range: Eastern North America including Long Island
Zone: 4 to 9
Aronia arbutifolia is a fantastic four season, multi-stemmed shrub. In the spring it is loaded with white flowers and early pollinators before the glossy, dark green foliage emerges. This is followed by bright orange-red foliage in the fall and edible red berries (sweeter than Black Chokeberry but still tart) persisting through January. When young the exfoliating bark is a lovely reddish brown color turning to grayish-brown with age. Best in the back of the garden as it tends to be a bit leggy looking. Great alternative to invasive Euonymous alatus (Burning Bush) and Berberis thunbergii (Barberry). They are not deer resistant, so young plants need protection.
Maintenance: Remember Red Chokeberry blooms on old wood or shoots that come off old wood so prune in spring immediately after flowering as this will produce a 'bushier' look. Prune out suckers to control size.
Benefits: self pollinating, pollen and nectar source, host to several hairstreak butterflies and several moths, important food source for overwintering songbirds when food is scarce, drought tolerant once established and clay soil tolerant
Companion Plants: Symphoricarpos orbiculatus - Coralberry, Solidago odora - Sweet Goldenrod, Solidago nemoralis - Gray Goldenrod, Callicarpa americana - American Beautyberry, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium - Aromatic Aster, Symphyotrichum macrophylla - Big Leaf Aster, Liatris spicata - Blazing Star
pics: KMS Native Plants LLC
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References:
1. https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=ARAR7
3. https://vnps.org/red-chokeberry-shines-in-all-seasons/
