Aronia arbutifolia Photinia pyrifolia
Red Chokeberry
General
An adaptable shrub that will form colonies. The berries are edible, and more palatable than the berries of Aronia melanocarpa, but still very dry and bitter. The berries are a wintertime food source for birds and small mammals.
Plant Description
Red chokeberry is a medium sized shrub. In the spring, delicate white or sometimes pink flowers bloom in clusters. Fruit is a bright red berry that grows in clusters and will stay on the plant well into winter. Leaves are large, shiny, and obovate or elliptical, and turn a beautiful red in the fall.
Height (ft)
6-10
Spread (ft)
3-4
Soil moisture
Medium, Well Drained
Soil types
Medium to Fine
Wetland indicator
FACW
Shade tolerance
Full Sun, Intolerant
Bloom color
White or Pinkish
Bloom period
Spring
Fall conspicuous
Yes
Anaerobic tolerance
Medium
Drought tolerance
Low
Salinity tolerance
Low
Self-Pollinating?
Yes
Range
Eastern United States, from southern Main south to mid-Florida, and along the Gulf into Texas.
Kartesz, J.T. 2024. Floristic Synthesis of North America, Version 1.0. Biota of North America Program (BONAP) [website http://bonap.org/]